Beware of Online Scams This Holiday Season
Don’t Let Online Scams Ruin Your Holiday Season
It wasn’t too long ago that holiday shopping was a simple, joyous activity. Over the course of time, shoppers have had to start worrying about carrying cash or debit cards and keeping their purchases safely beside them. However, with the age of online shopping among us, new threats to shoppers are arising.
Traveling Scams
If you are planning a trip for this season, it is best to book on a well-known travel site- like Travelocity or Expedia. Scammers will create fake websites that will attract you with gorgeous pictures – and even more beautiful prices! If you are unsure about a site, do some research on it before you book anything. If a site has a phone number, call it! Every penny counts during this time of year, but that doesn’t mean you should just book the lowest priced hotel or flight without looking into the details first.
Fake Apple Products
There almost always are banners advertising that you have “Won a Free iPad 2!” While you probably know better than to click on this ad, these scammers will try to hit you in many different forms. You may be exposed to emails that entice you to enter a contest for an Apple product, which seems a bit more plausible than just plain winning one for entering a website. However, most of the contests are fake as well. Scammers are aware that Apple products are a popular gift, and therefore find them as an easy scam. Play it safe, and go through an accredited source when purchasing such products. IPods and iPads may be expensive, but their cost is nothing compared to what you may lose in midst of a scam!
Fake Gift Cards
There are some third party websites that will give you a “deal” on gift cards. As one of the most common gifts, these cards have long been targeted by scammers. With the ability to now buy these cards online, even more scams have been connected to these items. The safest place to buy gift cards, is either at a grocery store or through the company whose gift card you are buying. Can you imagine how embarrassing it would be to give someone a fake gift card? Make sure you don’t find out how that actually feels!
Fake Charities
Though we all want to think that the money we donate is going to a rightful cause, that isn’t always the case. As horrible as it is, many scammers create fake charities to get ahold of your money. In the holiday season, many people feel propelled to give large sums of money to the less fortunate, making it one of the most profitable scams a person can pull. If you are planning to donate money this holiday season, please do so, but be careful who you are donating to.
The basics that every scammer is trying to get ahold of is your credit card information. Once they have access to those records, you may find yourself losing tons of money (not exactly great during holiday season) or even becoming a victim of identity theft! If you do find yourself subject to an online scam, contact the local police department immediately. If you are using a credit card for online shopping, most carriers will be very helpful in retrieving stolen money. Though these scams can cause serious damage to your mental state and your bank account, you shouldn’t worry too much. As long as you are on the lookout for potential scams, you can tell what to avoid – yet still stay in the jolly holiday spirit!
