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A steep discount in a social-media ad is a reason to check the seller—not proof that the deal is fake. Scammers can impersonate familiar brands, and an ad appearing in your feed does not mean the brand approved it. Before paying, verify who is selling the product, compare the price elsewhere, and inspect the purchase terms.
Why a brand-name ad may not be from the brand
Social-media scammers may use a real brand’s name or images to promote counterfeit goods or offers that never arrive. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that ad placement in a feed is not a guarantee that an advertiser has been vetted or approved by the brand. Treat the seller named on the checkout page—not the ad’s logo or imagery—as the business you need to verify. See the FTC’s guidance on whether social-media ads are vetted.
Check the offer before you buy
1. Identify the actual seller
Follow the ad only far enough to find the seller’s name and website, then search for that business independently. Search the seller’s name alongside terms such as “scam,” “complaint,” or “review.” Do not rely only on testimonials or contact details shown in the ad itself.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →2. Compare the price
Look up the same product at the brand’s official store and other established retailers. A price far below the going price is a warning sign worth investigating, not conclusive proof of fraud. The FTC advises consumers to be wary of social-media ads offering well-known brands at unusually low prices; see its advice on super-low brand prices.
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3. Read the transaction terms
Before entering payment details, check whether the seller clearly explains:
- How returns work and who pays return shipping.
- Whether the product has a warranty and who provides it.
- How long shipping takes and what it costs.
- How to contact the company if there is a problem.
If key terms are missing, vague, or difficult to verify, do not proceed. A professional-looking page or a familiar brand name does not answer these questions.
Choose a payment method with potential recourse
If you decide to buy, the FTC recommends paying by credit card. You may be able to dispute a charge if the product never arrives or is not what you ordered; contact your card issuer promptly to ask about its process. A dispute is not a guaranteed refund. Do not buy from a seller that insists on payment by gift card, wire transfer, payment app, or cryptocurrency.
What the reported figures show—and what they do not
Consumers reported losing more than $95 million in 2025 to scams that began after they ordered something advertised on social media, according to the FTC in 2026. The FTC also reported that more than 40% of people who lost money to a social-media scam in 2025 said they had ordered something they saw in an ad; shopping scams were the most reported type of social-media scam that year. These figures describe reports and reported losses, not every scam, all social-media users, or the chance that a particular ad is fraudulent. The FTC says many people do not report scams, so reported losses likely understate the total. See the agency’s social-media scam data.
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If you already clicked, paid, or shared information
If you paid
Contact your card issuer promptly if you paid by card and ask whether the charge can be disputed. Keep the order confirmation, seller details, and any messages. Report a suspected fake or scammy ad or a loss to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you shared personal information
If you think your personal information may have been stolen, use IdentityTheft.gov for identity-theft recovery guidance. The FTC’s advice on low-price brand ads also covers steps for consumers who encounter these offers.
Quick Recap
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