Don’t be a victim of these holiday scams

Santa isn’t the only one keeping track of who is naughty and who is nice! The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to beware of these common holiday scams:

▪  Be cautious shopping online. Because many retailers now have chip card readers, fraud at bricks-and-mortar stores is down, so scammers have shifted their efforts online. Use a credit (not debit) card online and only shop on secure websites. Look for https in the address (the extra “s” is for “secure”) and look for a lock symbol.

▪  Look-alike websites. When shopping online, make sure to use only legitimate websites. Watch out for URLs that use the names of well-known brands along with extra words.

▪  Fake shipping notifications. These can have attachments or links to sites that will download malware on your computer to steal your identity and your passwords. Don’t be fooled by a holiday phishing scam.

▪  E-cards. Electronic cards can be great fun, but be careful. Two red flags to watch out for are that the sender’s name is not apparent, and you are required to share additional information to get the card.

▪  Letters from Santa. Several trusted companies offer charming and personalized letters from Santa, but scammers mimic them to get personal information from unsuspecting parents. Check with www.bbb.org to find out which ones are legitimate.

▪  Emergency scams. Be cautious if you get a call from a family member or friend claiming to be in an accident, arrested or hospitalized while traveling in another country. Never send money unless you confirm with another family member that it’s true.

▪  Phony charities. Everyone is in a generous mood at the holidays so scammers take advantage of that with fake charity solicitations in email, on social media sites and even by text. Check out charities at www.give.org before donating.

▪  Temporary holiday jobs. Retailers and delivery services need extra help at the holidays, but beware of solicitations that require you to share personal and/or financial information online or pay for a job lead. Apply in person or go to the retailers’ main website to determine who is hiring and how to apply.

▪  Unusual forms of payment. Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay for holiday purchases using prepaid debit cards, gift cards, wire transfers, third parties, etc. These payments cannot be traced and cannot be undone.

▪  Free gift cards. Pop-up ads or emails offering free gift cards for surveys are often just a ploy to get your personal information which can later be used for identity theft.

▪  Social media gift exchange. It sounds like a great deal: buy one gift and get 36 in return. But it’s just a variation on a pyramid scheme, and it’s illegal.

Make your holidays merry and bright by becoming informed about holiday scams and keeping your hard earned money in your pocket.

For more holiday tips from the BBB, visit www.bbb.org.

This story was originally published December 12, 2016 at 12:18 PM with the headline "Don’t be a victim of these holiday scams."