The holiday shopping season is here, and according to the results of the new TransUnion Holiday Retail Fraud survey, more than 75% of shoppers plan to do at least half of their holiday shopping online. Unfortunately, thieves take advantage of the busy gift-buying season with holiday shopping scams. Whether through fake websites, deceitful text messages, fraudulent social media ads, or malicious email links, thieves are getting sneakier with their scams.
Here are four online holiday shopping scams to look out for this season:
1. Delivery notice scams – Be on the lookout for emails posing as missed delivery notifications. These emails will include links with the intention of capturing your personal information. The links may also lead you to click on something that downloads malware to your computer or your device.
How to avoid this scam: Remember that companies will leave a note at the location when a package was not delivered. However, even this could be a scam. If you call a number on a delivery notice and someone asks for payment information, that is a red flag that it is a fraud. If you are unsure about a package’s status, visit the delivery company’s website to track your shipment.
2. Deals that are too good to be true – Every holiday shopping season, there are popular gifts that everyone is raving about, but not everyone can get their hands on. For parents, in particular, searching for this season’s must-have toy can be stressful when it is sold out everywhere. Scammers use this to their advantage by creating fake ads, websites, or even sending deceiving text messages, all with the promise of having the item and offering it at a too-good-to-be-true price point.
How to avoid this scam: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Exceptionally low prices on high-ticket items are probably fake offers created to trick you into providing your credit card information. To avoid this, only shop on reputable company websites.
3. Fake websites that mimic the real thing – Another trick that scammers use is creating fake websites that look like the real one. You may come across the fake websites in a web search or by clicking on a deceiving ad.
How to avoid this scam: Double check that the company named is spelled correctly. For example, Target.com and Targat.com are very similar, but they are not the same. Also, look for legitimate contact information on the website.
4. Social media ad scams – We have all seen ads on social media. Unfortunately, sometimes, these ads are for fraudulent products or services. Consumers have reported several of these social media ad scams to the BBB Scam Tracker. The complaints include reports of products claiming to support charity; free trial offers that result in a monthly subscription; and counterfeit products.
How to avoid this scam: Research the business before making a purchase from it, or better yet, before you click on the ad. Also, review the form before you submit your information and read the fine print to make sure that you are not signing up to buy additional products, such as a subscription service.
Unfortunately, scams like these happen every day, but being aware of what to look out for can go a long way in shopping safely online this holiday season. Remember to trust your gut and keep in mind that if the offer seems too good to be true or if something seems off, it most likely is. If you spot a holiday shopping scam, you can report it to the Better Business Bureau’s BBB Scam Tracker. Happy shopping!
Reference:
BBB Holiday Tips. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2019, from https://bbb.org/holiday-tips/.
