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RALEIGH -- North Carolina businesses are taking advantage of the holiday shopping trend to go online the Monday after Thanksgiving. For the past five years, the day has been known as "Cyber Monday" and countless North Carolina-based businesses are selling to customers around the world through their websites.

Charlotte-based MostlyChocolate.com will be fulfilling orders from across the United States and even in other countries. About 94 percent of their business is through their website, even though they have a quaint little store nestled in Myers Park. Behind the facade of the chocolate delights store front, it is an international shipping headquarters.

"We're going to DC, some are going to New York," said Stacey Hepp as she looks over stacks and stacks of boxes. "We're shipping to Canada, Argentina and China."

MostlyChocolate.com imports authentic sweets from South America, Ireland and Germany and then sends them right back out to customers. They are busiest September to March, but Cyber Monday always adds a nice boost of exposure to their products.

"Folks are trying to find some chocolate online. They go to Amazon.com, we're one of the top chocolatiers that imports chocolate to pop up," Hepp said.

But because Cyber Monday is so popular, scammers are also taking advantage of the day. The Better Business Bureau says there are two specific things to look for on safe sites.

"When you go to check out is it encrypted? Two things need to happen at the checkout lane. The url needs to switch from 'http' to 'https' and also on your toolbar a padlock needs to show up," said Tom Bartholomy from the BBB. "If those two things aren't there, it's not a safe site and scammers are ready to jump on your credit card information as your typing it in."

They also warn if you are buying toys from websites other than toy store websites, cross reference with the Consumer Product Safety Commission so you don't get any great deals on recalled toys.

Helpful links:

Tips from Attorney General Roy Cooper

Charlotte Better Business Bureau

Eastern NC Better Business Bureau

Northwest NC Better Business Bureau