The internet can be a great tool for holiday planning.
From shopping for gifts to searching for seasonal recipes and holiday décor, there’s plenty of inspiration to be found online.
Unfortunately, scammers are lurking online, too. The busy holiday season can create plenty of opportunities for scams, especially when people are shopping, tracking packages, or looking for ways to give back. Here are a few common scams to watch for this holiday season.
Phishing (bad links)
Phishing scams are some of the most common online threats. Scammers take advantage of the fact that many people receive promotional messages or have packages on the way during the holidays. You might receive a vague text or email about a can’t-miss sale, an update on an expected delivery, or a message designed to create urgency and get you to click before thinking twice.
Before clicking, take a closer look at the link. Scam websites may use addresses that look almost identical to legitimate ones, with only a letter or two changed. Also be cautious of shortened links, which can hide a website’s actual URL until you’ve opened it.
Fake charities
The holiday season is a great time to give back and donate to worthy causes, but scammers are ready to take advantage of good intentions with the creation of fake nonprofits. Phony websites can look convincing, so be sure to do your research and check sites like Charity Watch to confirm a nonprofit is real before you make a donation.
Online shopping and product scams
Online shopping makes it easy to find gifts for everyone on your list, but a deal that looks too good to be true deserves a second look.
Find a must-have product that’s sold out everywhere else on a website you’ve never heard of? See an unusually low price that beats every major retailer? Those can be warning signs. Scammers may use fake websites or social media ads to lure shoppers in. After you make a purchase, the product could arrive looking nothing like what was advertised, or it may never arrive at all.
Whenever possible, stick with trusted retailers. Before buying from an unfamiliar seller, research the company, read reviews from multiple sources, and look for signs that the website and business are legitimate.
Scammers won’t be taking a break this holiday season, so be sure to stay vigilant while spending time online. For more information, or to report a scam, visit the FTC’s Report Fraud website.
