How to Protect Yourself During the Holiday Season
As the holiday season approaches, scammers are ramping up their efforts to take advantage of busy shoppers, generous givers, and those looking for seasonal deals. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has identified 12 common scams that tend to spike during the holidays. These scams target everything from online shopping to charitable donations, and they can leave victims with financial losses or stolen personal information. In this article, we’ll break down these 12 scams and provide tips on how to avoid them, ensuring that your holiday season remains joyful and scam-free.
1. Misleading Social Media Ads
Scammers often use social media platforms to promote fake products or counterfeit goods at prices that seem too good to be true. These ads may lead you to professional-looking websites where you unknowingly purchase fake or non-existent items.
How to Avoid It:
- Research the Seller: Before making a purchase, search for reviews of the company or product. Look for complaints on platforms like BBB.org or other consumer protection sites.
- Be Skeptical of Deep Discounts: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Fake Charities
The holidays are a time for giving, but scammers take advantage of this by creating fake charities or impersonating legitimate ones. They may solicit donations through email, social media, or phone calls.
How to Avoid It:
- Verify the Charity: Use resources like Charity Navigator or BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance to confirm that a charity is legitimate.
- Donate Directly: Avoid giving through third-party platforms and donate directly via the charity’s official website.
3. Holiday Job Scams
Many people look for seasonal work during the holidays, and scammers exploit this by posting fake job listings. These scams often ask for upfront payments for training materials or personal information like Social Security numbers.
How to Avoid It:
- Research the Employer: Verify job offers by researching the company online and checking reviews on trusted sites like Glassdoor.
- Never Pay for a Job: Legitimate employers will never ask you to pay money upfront for training or job placement.
4. Gift Card Scams
Gift cards are a popular holiday gift, but scammers tamper with them in stores or sell fraudulent cards online. Some scammers even ask for payments in gift cards as part of other scams.
How to Avoid It:
- Buy Gift Cards from Secure Locations: Purchase gift cards directly from store counters rather than open racks.
- Inspect Gift Cards: Ensure the scratch-off area hasn’t been tampered with before buying.
5. Fake Shipping Notifications
With so many people expecting deliveries during the holidays, scammers send fake shipping notifications via email or text. These messages often contain phishing links that lead to malicious websites designed to steal personal information.
How to Avoid It:
- Verify Tracking Information: Always track packages through official retailer websites instead of clicking on links in unsolicited messages.
- Be Wary of Unsolicited Messages: If you weren’t expecting a package, be cautious about any delivery notifications you receive.
6. Phony E-Cards
E-cards are a fun way to send holiday greetings, but scammers use them as bait in phishing schemes. Clicking on a link in a fake e-card can install malware on your device.
How to Avoid It:
- Verify the Sender: Only open e-cards from people you know and trust.
- Check URLs Carefully: Hover over links before clicking to ensure they lead to legitimate websites.
7. Travel Scams
Many people travel during the holidays, and scammers take advantage by offering fake vacation deals or rentals at suspiciously low prices. These scams often ask for payment upfront via untraceable methods like wire transfers or gift cards.
How to Avoid It:
- Book Through Trusted Platforms: Use reputable travel booking sites like Airbnb or Expedia, and avoid paying outside their secure payment systems.
- Research Rental Properties: Look up property reviews and verify ownership before booking any vacation rentals.
8. Puppy Scams
The holidays are a popular time for adopting pets, but scammers create fake listings for puppies that don’t exist. They ask for payment upfront and then disappear without delivering the pet.
How to Avoid It:
- Adopt Locally: Visit local shelters or breeders in person rather than purchasing pets online.
- Never Pay Upfront Without Seeing the Pet: If possible, meet the pet before making any payments.
9. Lookalike Websites
Scammers create websites that mimic popular retailers in order to steal your payment information. These sites often have URLs similar to legitimate ones but with slight misspellings or extra characters.
How to Avoid It:
- Check URLs Carefully: Always double-check the website address before entering payment information.
- Use Secure Payment Methods: Pay with credit cards rather than debit cards for added security.
10. Fake Tech Support Scams
During the holidays, scammers may call pretending to be tech support representatives from companies like Microsoft or Apple. They claim there’s an issue with your device and ask for remote access or payment for fixing it.
How To Avoid It:
- Don’t Trust Unsolicited Calls: Legitimate companies will not call you out of the blue offering tech support.
- Hang Up and Verify Directly: If you receive such a call, hang up and contact the company directly through their official website.
11. Hot Toy Scams
Every year there’s always a “must-have” toy that becomes hard to find—and scammers know it! They set up fake websites offering these toys at inflated prices but never deliver them after payment is made.
How To Avoid It:
- Only buy toys from reputable retailers such as Amazon/Walmart
For more resources on staying safe from scams year-round, visit Secure Home Network for expert advice on protecting your personal information and securing your devices against cyber threats.