Raising the Alert on Holiday Scams
The holidays are approaching, and everyone is already in a festive mood. Retail spaces are decked with fancy trimmings and arresting window displays, the better to lure in shoppers. Consumers, too, are excited at the prospect of giving and receiving gifts, especially when retailers are bringing out the best and the latest offerings – from toys, clothes, and accessories, to gadgets and home decor. Even better, many of the stores offer not only great discounts, but also the convenience of shopping for the goods online.
But, alas, where there is merrymaking, there’s bound to be trouble-making, too, especially where scammers are concerned.
Below, the Better Business Bureau shares some of the holiday scams to watch out for this season:
Scam shopping sites online
Shoppers are consistently looking out for good bargains online, particularly for the latest items in fashion and tech items, that they seek out the lowest price they can get, which can sometimes be too good to be true. As a result, many have complained about not getting the items they have ordered and paid for online.
BBB advises that when shopping online, check for the BBB seal and click it to verify it is legitimate. If you come across an unfamiliar site, check out the business with BBB before making any transaction.
Finding the season’s hottest toys and gadgets online
As mentioned, the holidays become the perfect time to unveil the latest in most everything,with consumers eagerly snapping up the hottest items. This often causes many products to be “sold-out,” feeding opportunists’ interests in re-selling them in sites like Craigslist or eBay at steeper prices, where eager shoppers willingly pay for them. Unfortunately, some become victims to those sellers who take the money and run.
BBB advises that when shopping through Craigslist, never wire money as payment, but meet up with the seller instead. That way, you can inspect the item up close and know for sure what you are paying for. As for shopping on eBay, research the seller extensively and always listen to your doubts if the deal doesn’t sound legit.
Identity theft at the mall
While you are preoccupied with all the sights and sounds at the mall, not to mention all those shopping bags you are carrying around, thieves might be eying for an opportunity to steal your wallet, and debit and credit card information.
BBB advises to always pay close attention to your wallet and debit and credit cards. When using the cards, be careful to cover the keypad when you key in your PIN number, whether on the counter or at the ATM machine.
Bogus charitable pleas
The holiday season is a great time to be extra generous, that reaching out to charities or less fortunate individuals might be a natural impulse; but scammers have spoiled this by soliciting for donations purely for their selfish gains. Also be wary of charities that don’t necessarily deliver on their promises or are ill-equipped to carry through on their plans.
The BBB advises to research about the charity with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance before giving a donation.
Phishing e-mails
Phishing e-mails are a common way for hackers to get at your personal information or break into your computer. Around the holidays, common phishing e-mails include e-cards and messages pretending to be from reputable and well-known big companies.
The BBB advises not to immediately click on links and e-mail attachments until you have confirmed that it does not contain malicious content. Common red flags include e-mail addresses that don’t match up, typos and grammatical mistakes. Also beware of unsolicited e-mails from companies with which you have no association. Make sure you have current anti-virus software and that all security patches have been installed on the computer.
We hope that by sharing these notorious holiday scams with you, you can enjoy a safer and better holiday season ahead. Cheers!
For more advice on being a savvy consumer this holiday season, visit http://dallas.bbb.org/consumer-tips-holiday/
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The March Group is a leading mergers and acquisitions advisory firm dedicated to the middle market.