Seasonal Scams to Avoid Through the Holidays

The holidays are quickly approaching, and while we’d all rather focus on family gatherings and spreading good cheer, the reality is that we need to watch out for seasonal scams. Unfortunately, fraudsters don’t take time off. In fact, some of them specifically set their sights on us during this time of year.

Keep your holidays merry and bright by avoiding these seven timely scams:

1. The shady shopping site

Anticipating a flurry of online shopping for the holidays, scammers have been known to create fake retail sites designed to harm you. It works like this: you type a popular search term such as “discount toys,” and the fraudulent website shows up in your search results disguised as a legitimate retailer.

This kind of fake website is toxic; you may download a virus by clicking its links, or unwillingly hand the scammers who run it your credit card information when you make a purchase. The takeaway? If the site looks suspicious in any way or advertises deals significantly lower than other retailers, don’t use it.

Protect yourself: Only shop reputable websites. Check the URL of each landing page you visit to ensure you are still on a trusted site.

2. Special delivery—of malware

If you’re like most people, you’ll probably do at least a little online shopping this holiday season—which means you’ll be receiving packages via USPS or another courier.

Scammers take advantage of this opportunity to phish for your personal information. Most carriers don’t ask for your email address, so if you never provided it but received a message from FedEx, UPS, or DHL, delete it. The link inside the email is most likely designed to download malware to your computer.

In addition, holiday e-cards can be ridden with malware. The e-card may bear the name of your friend, but scammers can easily pick names off the internet. All authentic e-cards will include a confirmation code for you to copy and paste at the issuing website.

3. The devious charity

Charity scams are particularly devious, as they prey on your good will. Unfortunately, they tend to flourish during the holidays when people are in a giving kind of mood. While you should always donate to charity if you’re moved to do so, research the organization first.

Scammers will likely try to phish you with emails from fake charities supporting disabled veterans, needy kids, or another emotionally-charged cause. If you’ve never heard of the organization in question, Google the company and visit its website.

Protect yourself: If you want to donate money to a specific charity, seek them out yourself instead of following a link or ad. Verify charities on sites like Charity Navigator, or CharityWatch.

4. The $0 balance gift card

In a gift card scam, fraudsters convince victims to share their gift card codes by pretending to be tech support or another believable contact.

Protect yourself: Never share sensitive information with an unverified contact.

5. Porch pirates

Here, thieves stake out private residences and snatch delivered packages off porches soon after they arrive. Scammers may even follow delivery trucks so they can easily pilfer. Once they make off with the goods, there’s no way to recover the packages.

Protect yourself: Track your ordered packages, and once notified that an item has been delivered, bring it inside immediately.

6. The rock-bottom travel deal

In holiday travel scams, fraudsters offer vacation package trips at rock-bottom prices. Then, they disappear once the victim has paid.

Protect yourself: Research any travel agency you’re using and be wary of sites and ads containing poor grammar and/or lots of spelling mistakes.

7. The internet holiday romance

In this scam, a love interest will build a relationship with an unsuspecting target, and then ask the victim for funds.

Protect yourself: Be wary of quick-building relationships and do a reverse-image search on new love interests. Also, never wire money to an unverified contact.

Don’t let scammers be the grinch this holiday season. Stay safe!