Wisconsin BBB says to use caution when holiday shopping on TikTok

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau is warning holiday shoppers to take a moment of pause before doing holiday shopping while using the TikTok online platform.

According to the organization, 49% of TikTok users report purchasing something they saw on the app, now that TikTok allows in-app shopping.

The Wisconsin BBB warns that many of these shopping experiences can be misleading products, less-than-scrupulous sellers as well as outright scams. Just because popular influencers may be pushing a sale, any potential customer should be just as cautious as they would be in a store or a mall.

Some of the tips offered by the organization include avoiding impulse buys, perhaps waiting as much as 48 hours before adding an item to the shopping cart and checking out to research the product and seller. Remember that followers of each seller should have a high level of account engagement, meaning they have many comments on their posts and reviews of their products.

Another tip is that if the price looks too good to be true, it likely is. High-dollar items may be found on TikTok for outrageously low prices, so remember that just as it might set off a red flag in a store, it also should do so on TikTok. Remember: if it is too good to be true, do extra research into the product's description, the seller's rating as well s potential return policies.

A complete list of tips can be found on BBB's Scam Alert.

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