12 Scams of Christmas
2. Job scams
- You should be skeptical if the person offers to hire you on the spot without an interview
- Do research on the company: Search their address, phone number, and company website
- Call someone in their human resources department and verify that the company is currently hiring
- You should be skeptical if the person offers to hire you on the spot without an interview
- Do research on the company: Search their address, phone number, and company website
- Call someone in their human resources department and verify that the company is currently hiring
3. Secret Santa/Sister Exchange (with a twist!)
- A scheme to give and get more presents is actually a pyramid scheme
- Participants report not receiving any gifts
- New this year: participants are asked to mail bottles of wine
- Pyramid schemes carry penalties that can include fines, law suits, even jail time
- And some mail delivery services like USPS don't allow the mailing or shipment of alcohol
- A scheme to give and get more presents is actually a pyramid scheme
- Participants report not receiving any gifts
- New this year: participants are asked to mail bottles of wine
- Pyramid schemes carry penalties that can include fines, law suits, even jail time
- And some mail delivery services like USPS don't allow the mailing or shipment of alcohol
4. Fake coupons/Free gift cards
- Offers for free gift cards and coupons have been circulating on social media including one for a $75 Costco coupon if you fill-out a form
- Costco said this is a hoax and it happens almost every year
- Be careful of gift card offers such as paying $10 for $100 in gift cards. Or texts saying you were randomly selected to win a $1,000 gift card to Walmart with a suspicious link
- Offers for free gift cards and coupons have been circulating on social media including one for a $75 Costco coupon if you fill-out a form
- Costco said this is a hoax and it happens almost every year
- Be careful of gift card offers such as paying $10 for $100 in gift cards. Or texts saying you were randomly selected to win a $1,000 gift card to Walmart with a suspicious link
5. Look-Alike Websites
- Before going to the website, hover over the link to view the URL
- Look for misspellings in emails and the sender's email address
- For secure shopping, verify there's a padlock next to the URL and it begins with "https" on the checkout page
- Also do research on the website. Google their address and the website's name followed by the word "complaints" or "scam" to see if anything suspicious comes up
- Before going to the website, hover over the link to view the URL
- Look for misspellings in emails and the sender's email address
- For secure shopping, verify there's a padlock next to the URL and it begins with "https" on the checkout page
- Also do research on the website. Google their address and the website's name followed by the word "complaints" or "scam" to see if anything suspicious comes up
6. Puppy Scams
- Do a reverse google image search. It's a huge red flag if you see the same photo on multiple sites
- Search the seller's business address and phone number
- Never pay using Western Union, MoneyGram, or gift cards. Always use a credit card so you can dispute the charges if something goes wrong.
- Adopt, don't shop and check out your local animal shelter for pets in need of a loving home
- Do a reverse google image search. It's a huge red flag if you see the same photo on multiple sites
- Search the seller's business address and phone number
- Never pay using Western Union, MoneyGram, or gift cards. Always use a credit card so you can dispute the charges if something goes wrong.
- Adopt, don't shop and check out your local animal shelter for pets in need of a loving home
7. Counterfeit Gifts
- Know who you're buying from: research the company's reputation, business address, and look for any typos or grammatical errors on their website
- Watch out for fake reviews
- Use a credit card
- Know who you're buying from: research the company's reputation, business address, and look for any typos or grammatical errors on their website
- Watch out for fake reviews
- Use a credit card
8. Phony Charities
- Be careful of sound-alike names or groups posing as well-known charities
- You can research how much a non-profit spends on overhead expenses vs. programs using Charity Navigator
- Some charities need to be registered with the state in order to solicit donations
- Be careful of sound-alike names or groups posing as well-known charities
- You can research how much a non-profit spends on overhead expenses vs. programs using Charity Navigator
- Some charities need to be registered with the state in order to solicit donations
9. Travel Scams
- Research the company. Search their name followed by "complaints" or "scams"
- Only use a credit card if you're unsure of the seller
- Ask for references
- Research the company. Search their name followed by "complaints" or "scams"
- Only use a credit card if you're unsure of the seller
- Ask for references
10. Romance Scams
- Ask specific questions about details given in a profile
- Do your research. Many scammers steal photos from the web to use in their profiles. You can do a reverse image lookup using images.google.com to see if the photos on a profile are stolen from somewhere else
- Search online for a profile name, email, or phone number to see what adds up and what doesn’t
- Ask specific questions about details given in a profile
- Do your research. Many scammers steal photos from the web to use in their profiles. You can do a reverse image lookup using images.google.com to see if the photos on a profile are stolen from somewhere else
- Search online for a profile name, email, or phone number to see what adds up and what doesn’t
11. Fake Shipping Notifications
- Never click on suspicious links. Hover over the URL to see where it's taking you
- Keep track of your purchases and use the company's website to check on orders
- You are not required to pay money to receive your package, that payment was made when you make your purchase
- Delivery services do not need personal information to deliver your items
- Never click on suspicious links. Hover over the URL to see where it's taking you
- Keep track of your purchases and use the company's website to check on orders
- You are not required to pay money to receive your package, that payment was made when you make your purchase
- Delivery services do not need personal information to deliver your items
12. CBD claims
- Consumer Reports recommends looking for companies located in states that have legalized recreational and medical use of cannabis, since they tend to have stricter standards
- Be cautious of companies claiming their products can heal or cure certain ailments. The FTC has cracked down on CBD sellers making health-related claims without having the science or research to support their statements
- Consumer Reports recommends looking for companies located in states that have legalized recreational and medical use of cannabis, since they tend to have stricter standards
- Be cautious of companies claiming their products can heal or cure certain ailments. The FTC has cracked down on CBD sellers making health-related claims without having the science or research to support their statements