CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Online shopping has become a convenient part of our daily lives, but it also comes with risks. One of the latest scams targeting online shoppers involves fake "card declined" messages that lead to fraudulent charges. The Better Business Bureau of Central Virginia is warning consumers about this scheme and offering tips on how to protect themselves. Here's how the so-called "Card declined' scam works: Scammers target social media users with enticing deals, often too good to be true. When you try to buy something, you'll get a "Card declined" message. Frustrated, you might try a different card or payment method. But the declined message was a trick to get your card details. You then might call your bank -- that's when you'll discover the scammers stole your information and charged your card. "We're not dreaming this stuff up," said Barry Moore, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Virginia. While 8News hasn't seen any reports of the 'Card Declined' scam in central Virginia, prevention is key, warns Moore. "Whenever we see a scam tracker, if it's happening in Oklahoma, guess what? It's coming here. Or it's happening in California, it's coming here," said Moore. "It's a heads up, you're ahead. So I hope I get no complaints from people in my 42-county area." While Moore said paying for an item online with a credit card instead of a debit card is your best protection, there are other red flags to be aware of when shopping online -- make sure you're shopping on a legitimate website and watch out for fake texts and ads. More preventative measures on the 'Card declined' scam. along with other scam tactics can be found on the Better Business Bureau's website.