Three popular holiday scams to avoid
Everyone is beginning to get in the holiday spirit, especially now that COVID restrictions have loosened up. As you begin to make plans to see loved ones, make sure to look out for these three popular holiday scams.
Charity Scams
Unfortunately, many scammers will take advantage of the kindness and generosity that flourishes this time of year by asking you to make a donation to a charity that does not actually exist. It’s important to verify the authenticity of any charity you’d like to donate to by checking it out on www.CharityNavigator. org. It’s also recommended to contact a charity on your own instead of following a website link from an email or social media post.
If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a represenative from a charity, consumer.ftc.com recommends asking questions about the charity’s exact name, website, mailing address, and how the donation will be spent. Some scammers use names that sound like large, well-known charities to confuse people. Asking questions and writing down information will help you confirm information before you donate.
The FTC requires charities to do these six things when calling a potential donor:
•They can only call between 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
• They have to disclose their name and purpose. They say the name of the charity and clearly state the reason they’re calling is to seek a donation.
• They can’t deceive you or lie about the fundraiser’s connection to the charity, the mission or purpose of the charity, whether a donation is tax deductible, how much of the donation actually goes to the charity’s programs, and the charity’s affiliation with the government.
• They can’t use a robocall or prerecorded message to reach you unless you are a member of the charity or a prior donor.
• They must provide a way to opt out of future calls. • The caller ID has to be truthful. The caller ID on your phone has to show the name of the charity, along with a number that you can call to ask to be placed on the charity’s do not call list.
If someone calls you from a charity and refuses to do one or many of these things, hang up the phone and block the number.
Delivery Scams
Many people turned to online shopping during the pandemic. Because of this, most people are used to receiving shipping information about the incoming packages via email or text messaging, but some scammers take advantage of shoppers’ reliance on email notifications.
As holiday packages are sent out throughout the country, scammers send out phishing emails disguised as UPS, FedEx or U.S. Postal Service notifications of incoming or missed deliveries. Links lead to fake sign-in pages asking for personal information or to sites infested with viruses.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also warns of delivery notification scam calls and texts. These text messages and calls look like they’re from a legitimate mail or package courier and include a fake tracking link. The link will lead to a website to enter personal information, or it will install malware, and the scammer will be able to take valuable information such as a credit card number or ID number.
If you receive a message about an unexpected package delivery, or delay in delivery, be cautious before moving forward. Identify harmful links by checking to see if there are any misspelled words, such as “fedx.com.” When in doubt, contact the courier directly for accurate information about your deliveries.
Gift Cards
Gift cards are popular items to give and receive during the holidays. Many scammers sell expired or empty gift cards this time of year, hoping to make a profit on a card that isn’t worth more than the plastic used to make it.
Ask to inspect any gift card you purchase before you finalize the sale. Check to see if the activation code is exposed. If it is, the scammer has probably already used the card or has copied the information and will use it soon.
