BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Mother's Day is Sunday, and if you're among the 84% that the National Retail Federation estimates will celebrate, you may or may not have picked up a present for the special woman in your life. If you haven't purchased a gift yet, beware of scammers trying to capitalize on the last-minute scramble.

While analysts estimate that $3 billion of the $34 billion spent on Mother's Day will go toward flowers, the Better Business Bureau is issuing a warning about the rise of phony florists.

Here are a few tips from the BBB on how to avoid online floral scams:

Research the seller. Don’t get roped in by flash sales and great deals without homework. Start by checking if the florist is BBB Accredited on BBB.org. BBB Accreditation signifies a commitment to ethical business practices and customer satisfaction.

Read customer reviews. Feedback matters! Look for customer reviews on BBB.org. Read what previous customers say and see how the business handles complaints. Genuine customer experiences can provide insights into the quality of service and products.

Verify the seller's contact information. Scam florists often use fake addresses or phone numbers. Verify the florist's physical address and contact information. Legitimate businesses are transparent about their location.

Check for secure websites. Ensure the florist's website uses secure connections (https://). Look for security badges and verify the website's authenticity before providing personal and payment information.

Get to know the business policies. Be wary of exceptionally low prices or deals that seem too good to be true. Review the florist's pricing structure, understand delivery fees and policies, and read the fine print before making a purchase. Find out the florist’s return policy, whether they have a satisfaction guarantee, how their delivery process works, and what additional fees they charge.

Review the seller's photos and advertisements. Ensure that the seller uses realistic imagery in their photos. Scam florists may use stock images or misrepresent the quality of their products. Look for realistic and varied arrangements.

Use secure payment methods. Legitimate florists accept secure payment methods, such as credit cards. Credit card payments provide additional protection if you need to dispute charges. Avoid making payments through wire transfers, as these transactions are often associated with scams.

Understand order placement and delivery timelines. Understand the florist's delivery policies, including estimated delivery times and guarantees. Reputable florists provide clear information on delivery processes and address concerns promptly. Florists may charge extra for quick deliveries or require orders to be placed ahead of time, especially around holidays. If you want your flowers delivered on time, don’t wait until the last minute.

WBZ’s Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) has more.