DO NOT LET THE GRINCH STEAL CHRISTMAS! HOLIDAY SCAMS & PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM THEM
- sdotny
- Dec 17, 2024
- 3 min read
As we roll through this holiday season, it is a time for gratuity, joy, celebration, and giving. Unfortunately, the holidays also offer a significant opportunity for scammers to mark unwary individuals and businesses with the ultimate goal of taking. With online shopping, charity giving, and holiday deals at their peak, staying alert is key to protecting yourself and your finances. These are some essential tips to safeguard yourself and your businesses during the holiday season:
1. BEWARE OF “PHISHING” EMAILS
“Phishing” is a frequent technique used for attempting to acquire sensitive data, such as bank account numbers, personally identifiable information (“PPI”), or a business’s trade secrets, through a fraudulent solicitation in email or on a web site, in which the perpetrator masquerades as a legitimate business or reputable person. Scammers often send emails that mimic popular retailers, shipping companies, or charitable organizations. These messages may contain links to fake websites or attachments that install malware on your device.
What you should do:
Verify the sender’s email address. Legitimate companies use professional domains (e.g.,
Avoid clicking on links.
Instead, type the retailer’s entire original URL directly into your browser. Be aware of spelling and
grammatical errors, which are common red flags.
Research the name of the individual allegedly sending the email and the company, if any, from which it originated. Google, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn searches can be your friend here.
2. IF A DEAL LOOKS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS.
Scammers often lure victims with fake websites offering enormous discounts on popular items, only to then steal their money or personal information.
What you should do:
Shop only on trusted websites. Look for "https://" and a padlock symbol in the address bar.
Use well-known retailers or check reviews of unfamiliar ones.
Pay with credit cards, when possible. They often provide better and more robust fraud protection than debit cards.
3. VERIFY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
The season of giving is a time when fake charities often pop up, feasting on your goodwill. Scammers may call, email, or solicit donations through social media.
What you should do:
Research charities on websites like Charity Navigator or GuideStar, each of which can be located here, respectively:
Avoid giving personal or financial information over the phone.
Donate directly through the charity's official website or in-person.
4. STAY ALERT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media platforms can be a breeding ground for scams, including bogus giveaways, fraudulent
holiday promotions, and malicious links.
What you should do:
Be cautious of offers requiring you to share personal information.
Avoid clicking on unknown links in posts, messages, or advertisements.
Verify that accounts and profiles promoting deals or giveaways are legitimate.
MONITOR YOUR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS REGULARLY
The best way to catch fraudulent activity swiftly is by keeping a close eye on your banking accounts and credit card statements.
What you should do:
Use online and mobile banking tools to check transactions frequently.
Set up account alerts for unusual activity.
Report suspicious transactions to your banking institution immediately. In the inevitable event it is
determined that your banking or credit card account was targeted, it is highly suggested that you: 1) file a fraud report with your local police department; and 2) report it to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) by visiting their website at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov and filing a fraud complaint, particularly if you lost money or your identity was compromised.
BE WARY OF GIFT CARD SCAMS
Gift card scams are on the rise, with scammers either requesting payment via gift cards or pretending to sell them at discounted rates.
What you should do:
Never use gift cards to pay someone when the person claims you owe money.
Buy gift cards only from reputable stores or online retailers, not second-hand sources.
Check the packaging containing the gift card to ensure it has not been tampered with.
For more information regarding the information in this post or any other business-related legal issues, please contact Shawn P. Dontigney at sdontigney@spdlawllc.com or 860.338.4997.
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