BBB warns of "12 Scams of Christmas"

The Better Business Bureau issued a warning about holiday season scams and how to avoid them.

According to the BBB’s website, the “12 Scams of Christmas” include:

Look-alike websites- “Many consumers will see an increase in the number of email alerts announcing deals, gifts, and sales. While mailers can look legitimate, the links may lead to look-alike websites meant to trick you into entering private information or give scammers an opportunity to download malware onto your computer.” To protect themselves, BBB recommends:
- Reviewing the sender’s address
- Looking for misspellings throughout the email
- Hovering over links without clicking to see where they reroute
- Only entering sensitive information into a website that begins with “https,” as the “s” informs consumers that the website is secure and information entered is encrypted
Social media gift exchanges– “Purchasing one gift and receiving several in return may sound like a harmless way to give and receive presents, but this seasonal scam is a pyramid scheme, which is illegal.”
Grandparent scams- ” Scammers target seniors posing as a grandchild or other family member and claim they have been in an accident, arrested, hospitalized or another urgent issue. The circumstance often requires money be sent immediately to resolve.” Consumers should do the following to avoid this scam:
- Verify by calling the family member in question directly
- Check with other family members to see if claims are true
- Be cautious if asked to wire money or send gift cards in place of making a payment with a credit card
Temporary holiday jobs- “Many businesses require a little extra help with the holiday rush and often seek temporary employees, but beware of fraudsters who attempt to glean personal information from applicants.” Those looking for work should:
- Apply for the job in person or by going to the retailer’s direct website
- Be wary of anyone requiring you to give personal information over the phone or online before meeting for an interview
- Be suspicious of a job that requires the purchase of equipment or software upfront
Free gift cards- ” Who doesn’t love free stuff especially around the holidays? Scammers hope to take advantage of that fondness through phishing emails and pop-up ads offering gift cards.” If you come across one of these offers, the BBB recommends the following:
- Don’t open the email as it can be a phishing attempt. If you do, don’t click on the links and mark the email as spam or junk.
- Don’t share any personal information as scammers can use this to steal your identity.
- Don’t click the ad. Close out of the app or program you are using, clear your history, and turn on the ad blocker.
E-cards- “Christmas cards are sent out this time of year and while some friends and family may be going high-tech by using e-cards so are scammers.” An e-card scam can be noticed by looking for the following:
- If the sender’s name is easily visible
- Be cautious if you are required to enter personal information to access the card.
- Avoid opening any suspicious email and don’t open an attachment that ends in .”exe.” This indicates “an execute command and could download a virus.”
Fake shipping notifications- “These false notification emails often use a legitimate businesses name and logo to trick you into opening the email and allowing thieves to gain access to personal information and passwords.” Consumers should note:
- Most online sellers provide tracking information to verify where purchased items are and to identify the delivery company
- Consumers are not required to pay money to receive a package, as that payment was made when the item was purchased
- Delivery services don’t need personal information to deliver items.
Phony charities- “Charities often get a boost this season as consumers are in the giving spirit but scammers seeking to take advantage can pose as charities or needy individuals soliciting donations.” Scams can be identified by the following:
- Sound-alike names
- Verify the charity online at give.org
- Review the charity’s website to make sure they specify plans for donations and how donations will be used
Letters from Santa- “Many legitimate businesses offer personalized letters from Santa, but some copycat scammers are only looking to glean personal information from unsuspecting parents.”
- Be suspicious of unsolicited emails that offer special prices or packages for letters from Santa
- Check bbb.com to verify the legitimacy of the company offering the letters
Unusual forms of payment- “When making your holiday purchases be wary of anyone asking for a strange form of payment as they often can’t be traced or undone.” These can include:
- Prepaid debit or gift cards
- Wire transfers
- Third parties
Travel scams: “Traveling for the holidays can get expensive, and bargains may be tempting, but some offers may be scams that end up costing you more instead of helping you save.” To avoid travel scams, consumers can do the following:
- Be cautious of email offers, especially if they are from an unknown sender or company
- Never wire money to someone you don’t know
- Ask for references
Puppy scams- ” While a year-round issue, puppy scams hurt families seeking to add a family member to their household for the holidays. Puppy scams are often difficult to avoid as cute pictures, and good deals pull at the heartstrings and wallet.” To avoid this scam, consumers can:
- Do an image search online of the photo given for the pet. If multiple websites pop-up, it’s likely a scam.
- Know what prices to expect, because if the cost seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Search BBB’s website for accredited breeders and rescue shelters
- Never pay using a money order or a Moneygram. Instead, use a credit card, which provides the added protection of being able to dispute charges.