Mother’s Day fraud: BBB warns Long Islanders about counterfeit gifts and stores

The Metro New York chapter of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a nonprofit organization that rates the trustworthiness of companies, encouraged area residents to do research when purchasing Mother’s Day gifts.

BBB’s announcement on Tuesday, April 30, comes after the organization announced that three Long Island florists are under investigation for alleged scams.

One such business is on Long Island at Sarata Flowers, a Melville florist that has had an ‘F’ rating from the BBB as of April 2024 and has received more than 500 complaints in the past year.

Consumers who ordered flowers from Sarata reported to the organization that the florist often canceled orders shortly after they were placed and then failed to issue the promised refund.

Additionally, the BBB said Sarata Flowers uses the same address and phone number as two other “F” certified florists on Long Island: Roger Florist and Baby Blue Florist. Both Roger and Baby Blue have filed similar complaints against Sarata Flowers.

The address provided by all three companies is reportedly the same address as that of a bank in Melville.

Buying jewelry — another popular Mother’s Day gift — can be just as tricky, BBB warned.

The organization named a Manhattan company, The M Jewelers Inc., as one such company to watch.

Although the company has more than 1 million followers on social media, the company has received 29 complaints in the past year about its lack of order fulfillment and unreliable customer service.

“Scammers expect people to look online for last-minute Mother’s Day gifts and may try to deceive buyers with false offers. Before you buy, check the legitimacy and reliability of the company,” said Claire Rosenzweig, President & CEO of the BBB Serving Metropolitan New York.

“See what others have reported to BBB about a florist or jeweler before ordering.”

The Better Business Bureau has been around for more than 110 years. On the website here, consumers can find reviews and information on millions of businesses in the US and Canada.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12.

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