It’s the most wonderful time of the year. We want you to keep it that way.
Around this time of year, some bad actors feel like it’s easy to take advantage of emotions running a little higher than usual. They want to take advantage of people looking for last-minute gifts, those who are looking for good deals and even folks just looking to donate to charities.
Make sure to stay sharp during the holiday shopping season and beyond. Arm yourself with knowledge of some of the most common holiday scams so you’re less likely to fall for them.
Quick links:
Phishing emails
How many marketing emails do you get during the holiday season? You probably can’t count. Actually, you’re probably reading this blog post because of one of our marketing emails. That’s great. Thank you for clicking.
During the holiday season, make sure you’re only clicking on email links from reputable senders. Learn how to spot a phishing email in the blog post below.
Protect your identity using email
Spoof websites
Social media advertisers spend a lot of money around Black Friday through Christmas. While legitimate companies run the majority of these ads, there are a lot of fakes going around, too. If you see a deal that looks too good to be true, it probably is.
After you click on a link for a social media ad, make sure you verify the website that you’ve been lead to is legit (has correct spelling and is the official website of the brand you’re looking for). Non-legit websites could send you knock-off products or even no product at all.
Imposter social media accounts
Creating a social media account that mimics an already established brand is easy. Imposters will set up these accounts to try to steal your information, lead you to fake phishing websites or even try to harm your reputation.
It may be hard to spot an imposter social media account because the scammer can use real logos and real images to make it look so real. Be on the lookout for accounts with few images, not many comments on posts and a short history. If the social media service you’re on has a verification feature, make sure it’s verified.
Empty gift cards
If someone, anyone, asks you to buy a gift card and send them the numbers on the back so they can provide you a service, it’s a scam! Some of the most common unsolicited messages you’ll get come from people claiming to be from the government, from Apple or Google tech support and from phony agencies claiming you won a prize.
The Federal Trade Commission goes into great detail about how these scams work and how to report them.
Marketplace scams
Facebook Marketplace is the wild west of doing business. It’s hard to tell if you’re dealing with someone trustworthy or with a scammer. Scams can happen if you’re a buyer or a seller. Facebook has a list of what to look out for when doing business on Marketplace.
For your physical safety, make sure to always meet a buyer or seller in a public space.
Fake charities
It’s the season of giving. If you’re feeling charitable, make sure that you’re donating to reputable organizations. Fake charity scams tend to pop up more toward the end of the year.
According to the IRS, they often pressure you to donate right away, asking for cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Scammers often refuse to send you information about the charity. They won’t answer questions or explain how the money will be used.
Package and delivery scams
Refresh. Refresh. Refresh. You need your packages in time for Christmas or the big holiday party. Many scammers will prey on these emotions by sending fake texts with fake links that lead to phishing websites that ask for your personal information.
Make sure to never click on unsolicited links from packages you don’t remember purchasing. Visit the Federal Communication Commission website for more information about package and delivery scams.
Pet scams
What better way to celebrate Christmas than with the addition of a new furry friend to the family? If you find an ad online for a new designer puppy and a fraction of what they’re supposed to cost, it’s most likely a scam. Make sure that you purchase a dog from a reputable breeder and see them in person (or on video call) before you buy. Learn more about pet scams from the Federal Trade Commission.
