The 12 scams of Christmas
BBB presents the most common holiday scams
The spirit of Christmas, for most people, brings out the joy of giving. For scammers, however, the holidays are a time for taking. With holiday sales expected to reach about $729.3 billion, scrooges and scammers have countless opportunities to swindle personal information and hard-earned money out of consumers. Shoppers are encouraged to be mindful of fraudsters who, unlike the Grinch, will not return stolen money or gifts.
In the spirit of savvy consumerism, Better Business Bureau shares the following twelve holiday scams, ways to identify them and avoid:
Holiday Wine Gift Exchange: It sounds like a great deal – This year’s shady holiday gift exchange comes with a new twist – wine. If gifting one bottle of wine and receiving dozens in return sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is. This seemingly harmless gift exchange is, in actuality, a pyramid scheme and therefore, illegal.
Lookalike websites: When shopping online, make sure to use only legitimate sites. Watch out for URLs that use the names of well-known brands. If one receives an unsolicited and suspect email, be sure to hover over the link to see where it leads. Look for the small lock icon in the address bar which indicates the website is secure and any information entered is encrypted.
Fake shipping notifications: Many people expect deliveries throughout the holiday season and scammers have weaponized this by creating phishing scams using fraudulent messages. The emails or postcards will often have a legitimate looking business name and logo, but don’t be fooled. Check tracking numbers and be aware of any communication that asks for additional private information or payment to complete delivery.
Phony charities: Everyone is in a generous mood at the holidays and scammers take advantage of this with fake charity solicitations via email, on social media sites and even by text. Always search for a charity’s name on give.org before making a donation.
Letters from Santa: Several trusted companies offer charming and personalized letters from Santa but fraudsters mimic them to get personal information from unsuspecting parents. Check with bbb. org to find out which ones are legitimate.
Temporary holiday jobs: Retailers and delivery services need extra help during the holidays. Beware of email or text message solicitations which require prospective employees to share personal information online, pay for a job lead or hire without an interview. Apply in person or go to retailers’ main website to find out who is truly hiring.
E-Cards: Some family members may be going digital with their Christmas or holiday cards. Keep in mind, scammers are, too. Never interact with e-cards that come from unknown senders or require additional personal information to view. If a card is presented as an attachment, do not open the attachment, as this could infect the device being used.
Emergency Scams: Be cautious of calls from a family member or friend claiming to be in an accident, arrested or hospitalized while traveling in another country. Never send money until receiving confirmation the claim is true.
Free Gift Cards: We could all use a little help monetarily around the holidays, so when a pop-up or email offering free gift cards appears, it can be difficult to resist. If one comes across one of these offers, be sure to mark the message as SPAM or JUNK, clear browsing history and/or turn on an ad blocker. Remember, nothing is free.
Unusual Forms of Payment: Any retailer asking for strange forms of payment, like prepaid debit, gift cards or wire transfers are suspect. These forms of payment are unable to be traced or undone. Use a credit card whenever possible for maximum purchase protection.
Travel Scams: The holidays are an expensive time to travel, so scammers look to exploit consumers by providing an offer they cannot refuse. Be wary of email offers from any unknown sender, never wire money to a stranger and ask for references before booking.
Puppy Scams: Be very careful buying pets online, especially during the holidays. Puppy scams are difficult to avoid as cute pictures are coupled with good prices that tug at the heartstrings. Reverse image search the photo of the pet – if multiple sites come up, it’s probably a scam. Ask to meet the seller and puppy before you agree to a purchase, never pay with a money order and remember: if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Yuma-based Janet Torricellas is the regional director of the Better Business Bureau serving the Pacific Southwest. She can be contacted at janet.torricellas@arizonabbb.org or 928-929-7940.