Another trip around the sun and we’re rapidly approaching the holidays! It’s a time of retail frenzy! It doesn’t matter whether you shop brick and mortar or if do your holiday gift purchases online, con artists and scammers are out to get you. Black Friday shopping events start earlier every year so there’s more time to separate you from your money and personal information.
We have to exercise more caution than we used to. People are bolder with in-person confrontations and scammers are more savvy with technology and also in understanding human behavior. They, too, profile people who are more likely to be scam targets. Keep in mind that scamming is BIG business. It’s not one person in a basement hacking into a system and drinking Mountain Dew®. Oh no! It’s so much bigger!
Consumers need to be cautious when they are shopping online and they also need to be alert when shopping in stores or malls.
If you are shopping online:
- Make sure the site is secure. The URL should start with “https” and show a keylock.
- Make sure the site is the company’s real website. Look for misspellings, logos that are just a little off, web addresses that are not consistent with the company’s published information. (For example: johndoe.com instead of johndoe.net)
- Check into the company’s rating. Legal Beagle, the Better Business Bureau, and Yelp are some options.
- Pay attention to your bills when you receive them.
- In-person shoppers need to use caution as well.
- Make sure you keep your credit card close.
- If you’re entering a PIN, check out your surroundings. Is someone hovering over your shoulder? Same goes with an ATM. Make sure you protect the view of the keypad.
- Don’t leave your purse or wallet in your cart when shopping.
- Be aware of where you park and have your key ready to unlock your car.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- If you are suspicious, respect your intuition and go back in the store and ask for an escort to your car.
- Don’t leave packages in view in your car.
There are so many ways that scammers try to get us every day but when the holidays start to ramp up, so do the scam attempts.
Remember: Don’t give out personal information. Don’t rush to take action. Do be cautious. Do ask questions.
Don’t be a scammee!
Be safe.
