Holiday Scams
Don’t Get Taken During the Season of Giving
For most of us, the holidays are full of giving, getting and goodwill. But some bad actors use the holidays to take advantage of people’s generous spirits. They frequently target those who are older and more vulnerable to scammers and con artists.
To ensure that you don’t get taken during the season of giving, below are some common scams and frauds that can occur during the holidays. Together, we can help each other enjoy the holidays without being taken by scams and frauds.
Holiday Mail Scams
As we buy and mail presents over the holidays, the high volume of mail and packages provides many avenues for scammers. Our deliveries can be easy targets for thieves and con artists.
- When you’re expecting a lot of packages over the holidays, shippers will often provide us with updates on the status of our orders. Knowing this, scammers will send phishing emails pretending to be from companies like FedEx and UPS to lure us to phony webpages and get us to share personal information. Look closely at delivery notifications and email updates before you click on links or input information. And remember, UPS and FedEx won’t ask for personal information via email.
- All of those packages stacking up outside your door can be tempting for thieves. Porch poachers might steal packages from your doorstep. Consider tracking your package so you’ll know when they’ve arrived. You can also set up a different delivery address with a neighbor who is home during the day or your workplace to ensure packages are delivered safely.
- If you’re traveling for the holidays, consider having your mail held for you at the post office, so you don’t have to worry about theft and can collect all deliveries and letters at once when you return.
Holiday Shopping Scams
It’s no secret that shopping ramps up during the holidays, but scams do too. Be careful about how and where you share information, and beware of fraudulent retailers and organizations.
- Protect your personal info. It’s easy to hit the “Buy” button from anywhere when you’re on your phone or on your laptop. But be sure you’re not sharing personal or credit card information over public Wi-Fi. Wait until you’re on a secure network to make a purchase.
- Gift cards are a convenient gift for the holidays, but they also open the door to several scams. To ensure your gift card is protected, avoid the rack and ask for one directly from the counter.
- There may appear to be deals galore over the holidays, and many of them are on social media – but not all of them are legitimate. Carefully read reviews, look for security credentials on websites, and research unfamiliar retailers before you take advantage of a discount.
- Always pay by credit card and keep receipts so you can try to get refunds if there’s an issue.
- Keep an eye out for common scams in your area with the BBB Scam Tracker.
- For more frauds targeting senior citizens, visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
- Seniors or older adults may also be scammed by being told they can get medical equipment with very little paperwork, and that Medicare will cover the cost.
Charity
Here are some tips to protect against fake charity scams:
- Verify first. Scammers frequently use names that sound like well-known charities to confuse people. Potential donors should ask the fundraiser for the charity’s exact name, website and mailing address so they can independently confirm the information. Use TEOS to verify if an organization is a legitimate tax-exempt charity.
- Don’t give in to pressure. Scammers often pressure people into making an immediate payment. In contrast, legitimate charities are happy to get a donation at any time. Donors should not feel rushed.
- Don’t give more than needed. Scammers are on the hunt for both money and personal information. Taxpayers should treat personal information like cash and not hand it out to just anyone.
- Be wary about how a donation is requested. Never work with charities that ask for donations by giving numbers from a gift card or by wiring money. That’s a scam. It’s safest to pay by credit card or check — and only after verifying the charity is real.
