Holiday Scams & How To Protect Yourself

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Tis the season to be jolly! And for the grinch-spirited scammers to target holiday shoppers. Protect yourself by learning the most common holiday scams taking place this time of year, and practice caution whenever you shop this season.

Phishing Emails

Always popular, phishing scams become even more prevalent before the holidays. They can be bogus delivery confirmation requests seeking your information or even a personalized letter to your child from “Santa.”

Be extra careful this holiday season when opening emails from senders you don’t know. If the scam attempts to impersonate a business, contact the business directly to verify.

Fake Charities

Sadly, many scammers will capitalize on the goodwill that flourishes this time of year by asking you to make a donation to a charity that does not actually exist.

Verify the authenticity of any charity you’d like to make a contribution to by checking it out on a website like CharityNavigator.org. Also, it’s best to contact a charity on your own instead of following a website or email link.

Package Theft

It’s holiday time, and those UPS and FedEx trucks are everywhere, dropping off boxes of goodies all over the neighborhood.

Usually, these drop-offs go as planned. Unfortunately, though, some 23 million customers will have their packages stolen from their doorsteps this year.

Don’t be one of them! If possible, and especially when ordering something expensive, arrange for a delivery that requires your signature upon receipt. Otherwise, track your order and know when to look out for it so you can bring it inside as quickly as possible.

When sending a gift to someone else via Amazon, consider sending it to an Amazon Locker location instead of the recipient’s household. There’s no fee for using this service, and your gift is safe this way.

Bogus Sites

You might get lucky and find that perfect gift at a super-low price, but don’t believe any ads or websites that are practically giving away the good stuff for free. These are, quite likely, scams.

Once you click an ad link and place an order on a bogus site, you’ll never hear from the site again. Worse yet, they may use the information you shared to empty your accounts.

Remember to check the website address/URL before placing an order. It may look strikingly similar to a popular site, but if one letter is off or completely missing, the site is bogus, and you must close out the window.

The best way to know if you are shopping on reputable sites is to look for the closed lock followed by “https//”. The important “s” after the “http” in the URL web address verifies a site’s connection from website to server and a browser is secure.

Fake Freebies

Did you really just see a Facebook post offering you a new iPhone completely free of charge? If you have, run the other way and don’t look back! You’re looking at a scam designed to lure you into sharing your information with criminals or unwittingly installing malware on your device.

Fake freebies run the gamut from new phones, complimentary cruises, and various luxury gift items to “free” holiday-themed downloads, like music, wallpaper, and games.

If you’re offered any outrageous free gifts by text message, email, or social media post, ignore them. Downloads, though, may be safe, but they need to be carefully vetted for authenticity before you accept them.

Fraudulent Gift Cards

Many scammers sell expired or empty gift cards this time of year, hoping to make a profit on a card that isn’t worth more than the plastic used to make it.

Ask to inspect any gift card you purchase before you finalize the sale. Check to see if the activation code is exposed. If it is, the scammer has probably already used the card or has copied the information and will use it soon.

Temporary Jobs Holiday Scam

Many businesses hire extra hands to get them through the busy holiday season. Don’t get stuck working for criminals!

Many scammers will pose as employees of recognized businesses and post help-wanted ads on social media platforms and popular websites.

When job seekers follow the links in these ads, they are directed to a bogus site that looks just like the site of the company the scammer claims to represent. They’ll be asked to share personal information to submit an application. The scammer will then make off with this information, and the promised job will never materialize.

If you’re looking for a seasonal job, apply directly on a business’s website. Do not follow any links.

Holiday Toy Scams 

Scammers famously exploit high-stress times, and the pre-holidays shopping frenzy is no exception. That’s why the BBB is warning of an uptick in holiday toy scams which can be difficult to spot. 

Here’s what you need to know about these scams. 

How the Scam Plays Out 

Every year, there are a few must-have toys on most kids’ wish lists. These choice picks become the hottest-selling items and are plucked off shelves in a wink. Unfortunately, these toys soon become impossible to find for anyone who didn’t shop early enough, leaving parents desperately searching, to no avail. 

Here’s where the scammer steps in. Armed with a bogus website and some crafty online tracking, the scammer targets the vulnerable shopper with ads and online messages to draw the shopper to the scammer’s site. On the authentic-looking site, the shopper finally finds what they seek — the sought-after toy! Often, the toy is also deeply discounted. The purchase is complete within minutes. 

Unfortunately, the scammer will send a cheap knockoff that doesn’t work or quickly breaks. When contacted for a refund, the scammer refuses to provide one or offers only to refund a small percentage of the purchase price. Sometimes, they’ll also charge an exorbitant amount for shipping it back to the company, almost making the small refund not worthwhile. 

Red Flags in Toy Scams 

Here’s how to spot these scams: 

• The seller has a large supply of toys that are in high demand. 

• The website is not secure. 

• The seller is offering a steep discount due to a “flash sale” or “last-minute” deal. 

• The seller’s website is full of spelling and/or grammatical errors. 

Stay Safe From Toy Scams 

Keep yourself safe when shopping online with these tips: 

• Research before you buy. Don’t purchase an expensive item from a company you’ve never heard of before without doing some digging. 

• Only visit secure sites. Look for the lock icon and the “s” after the “http” on the URL. 

• Pay with credit for purchase protection power. 

• Update your security software. 

• If you believe you’ve been targeted by a holiday toy scam, end all contact with the seller immediately. Alert the BBB and let your friends know about the circulating scam as well. 

How to Avoid Holiday Scams

Follow these tips to keep your shopping free of scams:

• Don’t open links in emails sent from unverified contacts.
• Never allow a stranger access to your device and accounts.
• Don’t share sensitive information on the phone or online with an unknown contact.
• If contacted by an alleged representative of Amazon or another large company about an issue with your account, hang up and check your account to see if a problem is actually present.
• Always keep the privacy and spam settings on your computer and mobile devices at their strongest settings.
• If you have an issue with an ordered item, contact the retailer directly through their site and not through a pop-up ad appearing to represent them. Likewise, it’s a good idea not to click through to “support links” that are posted on troubleshooting forums, as they may not be to legitimate service sites.
• Only purchase items from reputable sellers. When shopping on a new site, look for a physical address, a customer service number, and copy free of spelling errors and typos.

As always, be aware and cautious when enjoying the holiday season. Don’t get grinched! Stay alert and use caution to keep your money — and your information — safe.