Stay Alert – Beware of the "Out of Stock" Scam

The "out of stock" scam, which is still going strong after several years, typically works like this: You click on a social media ad for a product you're interested in, and the link takes you to a company's website, where you make your purchase. But shortly after your card is charged, you get an email saying the product is out of stock, and you should have a refund coming soon.

Unfortunately, you may have to wait for that refund forever, because the product you wanted to buy never existed in the first place. And now the scammer has your money and your credit card information. (The good news is that if you used a credit card, you should be able to contest the charge and get your money back.)

As the Better Business Bureau points out, it's never a good idea to click and follow a link on social media to buy something because it could take you to a copycat website. If you see a product you want, look up the company website and product yourself.