Posted Thursday, November 11, 2010 in
Computers-Internet-Technology
These five holiday
season scams are sure to steal your cheer. As you shop for your friends and
family, look out for the common threats that BBB sees every year...
1) Online deals
that are “too good to be true”
As
the majority of consumers now hunt for great deals online, some sites offer
electronics or luxury goods at prices that are too good to be true. Every
holiday season BBB hears from holiday shoppers who paid for a product at a
great discount, only to recieve nothing in return. To avoid this scam, always
look for the BBB seal when shopping online and click on the seal to confirm it
is legitimate.
2) Fake online
sellers of the season’s hottest toys and gadgets
Every
year, holiday shoppers fight over the “must have” toy or gadget of the season.
When the item is sold out in stores, you can often find it online through sites
like Craigslist or eBay. The problem is that some sellers will take your money
and run. The best way to avoid this is
to only consider purchasing these hot items from eBay or Craigslist sellers
that are local to you. If you win the
bid or decide to purchase from Craigslist, be sure to conduct the transaction
in person to make sure the product is what you expected. Never wire money as an
advanced payment.
3) Identity theft
at the mall
While
you’re struggling at the mall with multiple shopping bags, coats and lists,
identity thieves see an opportunity to steal your wallet and debit or credit
card numbers. Be careful not to let yourself get bogged down in purchases and
lose track of your wallet. Know where your credit and debit cards are at all
times and cover the keypad when entering your pin number while purchasing items
or getting money from the ATM.
4) Bogus charitable
pleas
The
holidays are a popular time to give to those who can help the less fortunate.
However, this creates a great opportunity for scammers to create phony
organizations and solicit donations to line their own pockets. To avoid giving
to a charity that is not going to use your money wisely, always research a
charity with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance beforehand. Double-check that the
charity meets the 20 standards for charity accountability before making any
donations.
5) Phishing e-mails
Phishing e-mails are
a common way for hackers to get at your personal digital information or break
into your computer. Common phishing e-mails around the holidays include e-cards
and messages pretending to be from companies like UPS or Fedex with links to
package tracking information. Never click on any links or open any attachments
to e-mails until you have confirmed that they are not malicious. E-mail
addresses that don’t match up, typos and grammatical mistakes are common red
flags of a malicious phishing e-mail. Also, beware of unsolicited e-mails from
companies or people with which you have no association. Make sure you have
current antivirus software and that all security patches have been installed on
the computer.
Have you run across a
scam? Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest trends, tips and to let us know if you
have any topics you want BBB to address.