Watch Out for Holiday Scams
Watch out for holiday scams while deciding what gifts to buy and donations to make. Fraudsters often trick people with too-good-to-be-true deals, especially this time of year. We often want to share the Christmas spirit by donating to good causes as well. Don’t let a scammer ruin your festive, giving mood!
Here are common scams to be aware of:
- Non-Delivery Scams: You pay for something online, but it never arrives.
- Auction Fraud: Items on auction sites may not match their descriptions.
- Gift Card Fraud: Sellers may ask for payment with a pre-paid card.
- Donation Scams: Scammers ask for donations to a worthy cause, but pocket the money instead.
Take some simple precautions to protect yourself:
- Cybersecurity: Shoppers are warned of social media posts offering vouchers or gift cards, often disguised as holiday promotions or contests. Clicking on these ads may lead to online surveys designed to steal personal information.
- Verify Sellers: Check website URLs for legitimacy, especially the “https” in the address. Research new sellers and read reviews. Check feedback ratings on online marketplaces. Be cautious of sellers posing as authorized dealers, especially if they claim to be out of the country.
- Payment Caution: Don’t wire money directly to a seller. Even Zelle and Venmo should only be used to pay someone you already know. Never use pre-paid gift cards, as the merchant can steal those funds leaving no way to trace the fraud. Always use a credit card for online and most in-person purchases. Make sure to monitor your financial statements for suspicious activity.
- Shipping Monitoring: Get tracking numbers for online purchases to track deliveries. Take precautions to thwart porch pirates to protect packages delivered to your home.
- Donation Smarts: Make sure you’re sending donations to reputable, charitable organizations—perhaps one you’ve previously donated to or thoroughly researched independently to ensure legitimacy.
We hope these tips are helpful to avoid holiday scams! Contact us for your security, monitoring and access control needs.
281-506-8466
Image by TREEDEO.ST at pexels.com
