‘Tis the season for holiday scams! We share some helpful tips on common scams and how to protect yourself.
Shopping Online
The two most prevalent scams when shopping online:
- Non-delivery scam where a buyer pays for goods or services they find online, but those items are never received, and
- Non-payment scam involves goods or services being shipped, but the seller is never paid.
What to Do
- Call your credit card company or you bank. Dispute any suspicious charges.
- Report the scam to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov and Contact NC Attorney General’s Office 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or file an online complaint
- Use good cybersecurity hygiene: DON’T click on links in emails, websites, or social media. Go directly to the website yourself from a browser like chrome or edge.
Be Careful How You Pay for Items Online or By Phone
Never wire money directly to seller or load money onto “pre-paid” gift cards. This is how scammers typically want payment and the money is often not recoverable. Use a credit card or protected bank debit card if you do not have a credit card, check statements, dispute with your bank. Gift cards are to give for gifts, not to make payments to another.
Gift Card Scams
Scammers want you to pay with gift cards because they’re like cash: once you use a gift card, the money on it is gone. But what do gift card scams look like?
Someone may call, tell you they’re from a government agency, and say you owe taxes or a fine. Or they may pretend to be a family member or friend in trouble, who needs money right away. Or they may say you’ve won a prize, but first must pay fees or other charges. Here are signs you’re dealing with a scammer:
- The caller says it’s urgent. They tell you to pay right away or something terrible will happen. They try to pressure you into acting quickly, so you don’t have time to think or talk to someone you trust. Don’t pay. It’s a scam.
- The caller usually tells you which gift card to buy. They might tell you to put money on a Google Play, Target, or iTunes gift card — or send you to a specific store like Walmart, Target, or CVS. Sometimes they tell you to buy cards at several stores, so cashiers won’t get suspicious. If so, stop. It’s a scam.
- The caller asks you for the gift card number and PIN. The scammer uses that information to get the money you’ve loaded on the card. Don’t give them those numbers. It’s a scam. You’ll lose your money, and you won’t be able to get it back.
If you paid a scammer with a gift card, tell the company that issued the card right away. Keep the card and find any receipts you have. Then tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Phony package delivery notices
Scammers know people receive unexpected packages this season and will send realistic-looking delivery failure notifications so you’ll follow up and reveal personal info. Before you hand over information on the internet, head to your local post office or call the delivery service to verify the notification. These notices can be by fake email or door hangers.
Avoid Holiday Job Scams
To keep your money and personal information to yourself, follow these steps:
- Don’t pay to get the job. Scammers may promise you a job — if you pay them. But no legitimate job will make you pay for expenses or fees to get the job. Anyone who does is a scammer.
- Never give personal info up front. Some scammers will try to get your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number as soon as you’re in contact.
- See what others are saying. Search online for the name of the company plus the words “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” You might find they’ve scammed other people.
- Talk to someone you trust — before you take a job offer or business opportunity. What do they think?
Fake charities
These crop during major disasters and around the holidays. Leaflets and phone calls from organizations with familiar-sounding names will ask you to open your wallets for a good cause. To be safe, don’t give to any charity with whom you didn’t start the contact. Check legitimacy through the North Carolina Secretary of State, Charity Watch, or Charity Navigator.
Beware of “person in need” and grandparent scams.
Scammers pose as a grandchild, friend or relative stranded or otherwise in trouble and need money quickly and quietly. They may ask for money by mail or gift card. Don’t be pressured, hang up and call another relative or friend if you are still concerned to help you investigate.
Old school pickpocketing
Crowded malls and shopping centers are havens for pickpockets. To combat this threat, it’s best to wear purses across the body and wallets in front pockets or inside a closed jacket. Consider leaving the house with the bare minimum, like your ID and debit or credit card (the latter which offer fraud protection and security features not available with cash).
The more you and loved ones know about scams, the easier it is to spot and avoid them. If you need help, contact the Advocacy Center’s Consumer Protection Team for more information.