What a joyous season we are entering! Decorations adorn city streets and neighborhoods. Parades are being held to open the holiday season. Sales are being promoted everywhere. The holidays are upon us!
Scammers are excited to see the holidays, too! Would you like to donate to your favorite charity (out of the goodness of your heart or for the tax credits)? Are you lonely and think you’ve found your soul-mate online? Are you looking for good deals on gifts? Do you order for home delivery? Be cautious!
Charity scams are especially big during the holidays. We tend to be more generous, and scammers know this. When you’re planning your holiday giving, consider these tips:
*Are demands made for you to donate gift cards, wire transfers or crypto? These are not legitimate requests.
*Is the website missing https? (It may have only “http”.) Look for the “s” – that means it’s a secure data transmission. No “s”? Not secure.
*Are you being pressured to donate NOW? Scammers use urgency to get you to act quickly without thinking. Ask them to mail you information.
The holidays promote togetherness, family, and connections with others. Scammers know this and will target vulnerable people. They will make themselves appear as whatever the potential scammee wants. They will promise devotion. The next step may be a request for money. Be cautious and keep an eye on loved ones who are alone.
Prices have gone up…a lot. We need to save money where we can. Scammers will promise great deals but they won’t deliver. You have provided your personal information and credit card information to a con artist. Make sure URLs are accurate. Don’t respond to an email about a deal – go directly to the business website.
Deliveries to your home make shopping so convenient! We don’t have to trudge from store to store in what is often really cold weather. We can sit by the fire, sip on a beverage, browse the deals, and order. These orders can add up, so we may not be as alert as we need to be when we get a text or email about a delay in delivery. Be cautious about fake delivery notices. Scammers can get personal information. Don’t click on the link that is provided. Use the tracking number provided on your order summary.
The “porch pirate” is the other home-delivery risk. If you’re not home, arrange for packages to be delivered to a neighbor or to an alternate address where someone can accept the package. A Ring-type doorbell system or a home security system can add a level of protection.
USA Today offers more information on scams that are popping up this holiday season.
Stay alert. Scammers are not nice people. They don’t care if you have money problems, health issues, family conflict, or a broken-down car. They want your money, and they want your personal information.
Don’t let scammers steal your joy this holiday season!
Stay safe!
