How to Avoid Scams This Holiday Season
Run, run Rudolph! If a phone call, email or deal seems either fishy or too good to be true, it probably is.
Fraud is on the rise and can be especially devastating to older adults. This month, fraudsters who want to take advantage of general goodwill and generosity are on the rise.
To protect your holiday cheer (and finances) this season, here are a few of the most common types of scams along with helpful tips to help protect yourself.
Gift Card Scams
Gift cards make for the perfect holiday gift. Be cautious about buying gift cards from third-party sites or cards that have already expired—you'll likely be scammed. To be safe, buy gift cards directly from the retailer and avoid shopping for discount gift cards through local swap sites. Don't respond to an unsolicited email or text message offering you a gift card—your computer or mobile device could become infected with a virus or malware.
Online Shopping Scams
It’s so easy to shop online, especially during the busy holiday season. It’s also easy for scammers to extract information if you’re not protecting yourself. Steer clear of private sellers with goods for sale at a price that seems too good to be true or with hard-luck stories, such as a need to sell quickly because of family loss, divorce or military deployment (these stories are also common in text scams). Buy directly from a retailer's official website and avoid websites offering unrealistic discounts on popular merchandise.
Delivery Scams
Scam alert! As holiday packages are delivered around the country, scammers send out phishing scam emails disguised as UPS, FedEx or U.S. Postal Service with a link to view your "missed deliveries”. Whatever you do, don't click on these links as they will often lead to phony sign-in pages asking for personal information or to websites infected with malware.
Travel Scams
Booking sites and email offers with travel deals that look too good to be true are most likely scams. Scammers try to mimic popular travel websites by recreating familiar branding, logos or company verbiage. Advocate for yourself as a scam checker by looking up unfamiliar retail, travel and charity sites online by searching for their names along with terms like “scam,” “complaints” or “reviews.” When booking a rental home for a vacation, always pay through the rental services' official website. Some scammers will try to convince you to pay for your trip using other means.
Charity Scams
According to a recent study from AARP, charity scams are the most common type of holiday scam. To make sure your donation really goes to those in need, follow these simple steps:
Research: Unless it’s a known organization, research the organization before making a donation by visiting charity evaluation sites such as Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, GuideStar, or the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. The Internal Revenue Service’s Tax Exempt Organization Search tool can also help confirm if an organization is eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions.
Donate safely: Use secure services to make the donations—avoid making donations through text messages or in cash, and never share your social security number!
Keep records: Don't forget to keep records of your charitable contributions. This can be helpful when preparing to file your taxes.
It’s important for you to understand these risks as the holiday season gets underway. Reducing these risks will involve staying diligent and adding layers of protection.
Contact our team today to learn more about how you can stay ahead of fraud with the right coverage to protect yourself, your data and your assets.
