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The holidays are famously filled with good cheer, gatherings, and giving. Unfortunately, this also is a season in which criminals cook up scams and schemes.
Online Shopping
Scammers want to take advantage of seasonal bargain hunting through bogus websites and social media campaigns that impersonate major brands. These "spoofing" sites and fake posts and ads entice you to spend money for products you'll never receive.
These fake offers are vehicles that allow criminals to acquire your credit card numbers and other personal data which allows them to commit identity theft.
Who hasn't simplified gift giving by purchasing gift cards? Fast, easy and sure to please, gift cards are great options, but unfortunately scammers love them as much as recipients. Gift cards on racks can easily be manipulated and returned to the rack with no funds on them.
Other popular scams around holiday giving include:
Charity scams: One-third of all charitable giving is done in December, reports fundraising software company Network for Good. That means more sham charities exploiting Americans' goodwill via fake websites and pushy telemarketers.
Delivery scams: As holiday packages crisscross the country, scammers send out phishing emails and texts disguised as UPS, FedEx or U.S. Postal Service notifications about incoming or missed deliveries. Links lead to phony sign-in pages asking for personal information, or to sites infested with malware.
Protect yourself from holiday scams
If you see a link in an email, text or on social media, don't click on it. Instead go to the web and type in the web address of the company purportedly offering said great deal.
Pay by credit card. This allows you to dispute charges and limit the damage if the transaction was fraudulent.
Buy gifts cards online directly from the issuing business instead of from a retail rack. When receiving a gift card as a present, register it if that's an option, and use it sooner rather than later.
Pushy charities could be an indicator that the cause is bogus; legitimate charities will accept your donations on your own timeline.
If you receive an unexpected delivery message via email or text, do not click on the link offered or call back the number. Instead, contact the delivery service or seller directly using a verified number or website.
Resources
If you encounter a holiday scam, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and report it to your state's attorney general and consumer protection office.
AARP North Dakota regularly shares fraud information with newspapers and other media.