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OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today urged shoppers to be on the lookout for common scams this holiday season and offered tips on how to shop safely. As Black Friday and Cyber Monday quickly approach, Californians should stay alert and take action to protect themselves and their loved ones from purchases that can cause headaches and heartbreak.
“As the holiday season approaches and folks look for the best deals, consumers should slow down and check their safety list twice,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I urge Californians to know their rights, familiarize themselves with shopping pitfalls, and report scams and illegal activity to my office and local law enforcement agencies. Happy and safe shopping, California!”
Be On the Lookout For:
Gift Card Draining
Gift card draining is a scam in which bad actors record pin numbers and other information from unpurchased gift cards. Once those cards are purchased by unsuspecting consumers, and money is loaded into the card, the scammer immediately uses the numbers to make purchases, leaving buyers with worthless gift cards.
When purchasing a gift card, make sure the card is sealed and the protective cover and tape covering the pin is intact; remember to keep the store receipt in case the gift card you purchase is found to have been compromised. If a purchased gift card is compromised, report it to the gift card company directly, ask for a freeze on the card, and request a refund. You may also file a complaint with our office at oag.ca.gov/report.
Hidden Fees
Check your receipts! In California most hidden fees are illegal. Senate Bill 478 (SB 478) requires that the price listed includes all mandatory charges consumers will pay. SB 478, which went into effect on July 1, 2024, makes it illegal for a business to advertise or list a price for a good or service that does not include all required fees or charges except for certain government taxes and shipping costs.
Mandatory fees charged by restaurants, bars, and other select food vendors are exempted from SB 478’s requirements so long as the fee is clearly and conspicuously displayed on the menu. Consumers who observe apparent violations are encouraged to have a conversation with the business about coming into compliance. Consumers, employees, and competitor businesses who observe apparent violations can also file a complaint with our office at oag.ca.gov/report.
Gender-Based Price Differences
Under AB 1287, businesses are prohibited from charging different prices for substantially similar goods based on the gender of the product’s target audience — a practice known as the “Pink Tax” when it is used to charge women higher prices than men for essentially the same goods. If you have seen or believe you are the victim of illegal gender-based price differences, please file a complaint at oag.ca.gov/report.
Lack of a Gender-Neutral Products Section
Does your department store have a gender-neutral children section? As of January 1, 2024, large retail department stores that sell childcare items or toys must maintain a gender-neutral section for these items. Under AB 1084, retail department stores that have physical locations in California and 500 or more employees across all California locations must maintain a gender-neutral section, where a reasonable selection of the childcare items and toys for children that they sell must be displayed, regardless of whether these products are traditionally marketed for boys or girls. By requiring large retailers to maintain a gender-neutral section, AB 1084 makes it more difficult for these retailers to engage in gender-based pricing discrimination and reduces the imposition of gender stereotypes on children.
If you do not see an adequate gender-neutral product section in a large retail department store in California that you believe is covered by this law, you may take pictures, document, and file a complaint with our office at oag.ca.gov/report.
Tips for Safe Shopping: