7 Holiday Scams To Avoid This Year
1,) Stolen Packages
- Mark the “require signature for package delivery” option when ordering items especially if they’re expensive.
- When ordering from Amazon, look at choosing the Amazon locker option. There’s no fee for this.
- Notify your mail carrier if you’ll be out of town when a package is expected to arrive.
- If you work at an office, consider having packages delivered to your workplace.
2.) Gift Card Scams
Scammers love gift cards because there are PLENTY of ways for them to steal funds. They use tactics like exposed PINs, fake activation stickers, and gift card exchange sites to steal gift card funds. For tips on how to avoid buying a fraudulent gift card, visit our Gift Card Scams blog post.
3.) Facebook Freebies
Have you ever opened your social media feed to find a post offering you a FREE iPhone for taking a simple survey? Many of these offers are paired with a holiday promotion or contest, and some of these promotions may even be shared by your friends and family members. Many times, these posts will lead you to a survey where you are asked to disclose personal information. IGNORE THESE.Offering your personal information could lead to robocalls, phishing emails, and stolen identity.
4. “Secret Sister” Gift Exchange
Buy ONE gift and RECEIVE 6-36 in exchange. The Better Business Bureau says this is a PYRAMID SCHEME. The BBB says you’ll receive little to no return on your investment. If you see one of these posts on your social media feed, click the three buttons in the upper righthand corner of the post and click “Find Support or Report Post”.
5. Travel Phishing Emails
- Using http:// instead of https://
- Email domain is Gmail, AOL, or Yahoo instead of the company’s domain (eg. aa.com, delta.com, etc.)
6.) Charity Scams
- Only donate to the sites you’re familiar with.
- If you receive an email from a charity, contact them directly to make sure they sent the email.
- If you’re unsure about a charity’s legitimacy, look them up HERE.
7. Package Notification Scams
Receive a text message saying a package is waiting for you? This could be a scam. These texts ask you to click on a link to confirm a package delivery. Amazon and other retailers may allow text notifications of package delivery, but these should not require personal information from you. More information from the FTC here.
