There are three reasons I have trust issues: my dad left me and my mom when I was just a baby, I had a serial cheater for a boyfriend when I was 25 and then there's this- the internet.

You really can't believe everything you read online and that's unfortunate; especially when it comes to saving money at your favorite retailers.

Last week it was reported that a fake Mother's Day coupon for Lowe's was making the social media rounds; this week it's Bed Bath and Beyond.

I know you love a great deal but don't fall for this one:

ABC 7 Chicago says clicking on the coupon will bring you to a fraudulent website and you'll be asked to follow a set of instructions; probably instructing you to enter personal information in order to get the coupon.

Aaand this is why we can't have nice things.

Before you click on anything on social media in the future, the Better Business Bureau says this is what to look for:

-Don't believe what you see. It's easy to steal the colors, logos and header of an established organization. Scammers can also make links look like they lead to legitimate websites and emails appear to come from a different sender.

-Legitimate businesses do not ask for credit card numbers or banking information on customer surveys. If they do ask for personal information, like an address or email, be sure there's a link to their privacy policy.

-Watch out for a reward that's too good to be true. If the survey is real, you may be entered in a drawing to win a gift card or receive a small discount off your next purchase. Few businesses can afford to give away $50 gift cards for completing a few questions.


Catch Mandy James on “The Steve Shannon Show with Mandy James” on 97 ZOK from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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