Holiday Scams to Watch Out For: How to Protect Your Money This Season

Shopping and Auction Scams 

Fraudsters often create fake websites that look legitimate and real. These can include online stores or even auction sites. They can create logos that appear to be the real logo and offer items at discounted rates. 

These websites often have deals that seem too good to be true or offer a “last chance” opportunity. They can also include false links that lead the shopper to more “deals” where their information could be stolen. With the fake auction sites, they would receive funds from a bidder, but then never send the item out. 

Another common tactic is the non-payment scam. In these cases, a buyer sends a fake payment confirmation to a seller with no intention of paying. Believing that the payment has been received, the seller ships the item, only to later discover that the funds never went through.  

Gift Card Scam 

Gift cards are a great gift and a way to give back during the holiday season. Unfortunately, scammers are aware of this and can exploit it to gain access to funds. 

Physical gift cards can be compromised by scammers at checkout lanes. They often attempt to scratch off the security code on the back of the card, allowing them to access those funds as soon as they are purchased by someone.  

Gift card payments are also a part of these scams. Fraudsters may impersonate businesses and demand payments via gift cards. They could also ask people to purchase multiple gift cards at a time and request that they provide all the card information to gain access to the funds, promising their victims that they would reimburse them.  

Delivery Scam 

With online shopping more popular than ever, fraudsters continue to find ways to steal personal information and money from online shoppers. They often send a text or email with a payment link, stating that they will hold a package until they receive the extra funds.  

These messages appear to be from a legitimate package and delivery carrier but are designed to gain access to your personal and financial information. There’s often a sense of urgency to pressure the potential victim into clicking the link and giving away their information.