Tis the season for holiday shopping. Christmas is a thrilling time – for families and scammers. As spending increases, so do scams that prey on shoppers. But you can protect yourself from holiday scams.
Before 2020, Black Friday sprees were popular affairs. Then COVID happened and everything shut down. Last year, shoppers hit stores in early November due to inventory and supply chain issues. Based on Salesforce predictions, inflation will drive even earlier shopping this year.
It could be YOU will snag gifts early to avoid year-end price hikes. And you’ll do some of your shopping online. Christmas shopping by phone or laptop is convenient, but it can open you up to a host of scams.
While you’re scouting for that perfect gift, scammers are looking for ideal targets. They use many tricky techniques to find them. Phishing emails, bogus offers, counterfeit goods, and more.
Do you want to go Christmas shopping now to save some money and avoid the crowds? Go ahead and shop online if it helps. But be alert for holiday scams and other cyber threats.
These tips will show you how.
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Protect Yourself From Holiday Scams
There are several ways to protect yourself from holiday scams. Today, I’ll share 12 cyber safety tips in three categories:
- while you do your holiday shopping,
- while you do your holiday travel, and
- while you do your holiday giving.
To learn more about common holiday scams, see “The 12 Scams of Christmas” from PNC Bank. There, you’ll find a downloadable tip sheet to help your family stay safe during the holidays.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is another good resource. Last holiday season, they issued a press release identifying seven common holiday scams. “HO HO HO Holiday Scams” suggests several ways to avoid becoming a victim of scam.
Now, on to the tips.
📋 DISCLAIMER – I am not a cybersecurity expert. The content on this page is for general information only. It is not a substitute for professional security, financial, or legal advice.
While You Do Your Holiday Shopping
As you shop online for holiday deals, scammers are also trying to “steal a deal.” Criminals are creative and persistent in their efforts to pilfer your money or data. Their clever fraud schemes can take many forms.
Here are 12 ways to avoid scams as you shop online:
1. Check Your Bank Accounts
Scammers are tricky and often convincing, so it’s hard to avoid every scam out there. The next best thing to avoiding one is to catch a scam as soon as possible.
How? By checking your bank accounts on a regular basis. It’s easy to check them daily with online accounts and mobile banking apps.
Review your bank and credit card statements for suspicious activity. Look for anything out of the ordinary, like unexpected charges and unauthorized transactions. Report possible fraud to your bank immediately.
2. Review Your Credit Report
Watching your bank accounts is not the only way to spot fraud and scams. You should also check your credit report on a regular basis. You can request one free copy a year from the top three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
It’s a good idea to space out your reports every four months, requesting each one from a different bureau. This gives you the best chance to spot signs of identity theft or fraud.
Get your FREE credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you find any errors, report them immediately.
3. Maintain Your Security Software
Before you shop online, look deep into your devices – desktop, laptop, smartphone, tablet. Whatever you plan to use for holiday shopping.
Install the latest antivirus and security software on your devices. Then scan them for viruses, Trojans, malware, and adware. Update applications that need updating, and uninstall those you no longer use.
4. Strengthen Your Passwords
Do you use the same password for all your online accounts? Is it something like “password” or “qwerty” or “12345” because it’s easy to remember? This is bad practice, and it makes you an easy target for hackers and scammers.
To protect yourself from holiday scams, create strong passwords for your accounts. Use at least eight characters, and mix it up a bit with letters, numbers, and symbols. { If you need a secure way to remember it all, check out this password safe and companion travel case. }
5. Shop on Secure Websites
When you shop online, make sure the store’s website uses secure technology. Check that the web address (URL) begins with “https” rather than “http.” Look for a tiny, locked padlock icon on the checkout page.
Websites are safer today than ever before, thanks to the prevalence of HTTPS. That last “s” stands for secure; it indicates the site uses a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate. It sends encrypted data as it leaves your browser for the site’s server.
6. Pay With a Credit Card
Credit cards offer extra protection from holiday scams. In fact, they provide superior fraud protection for two main reasons:
- Card issuers, like VISA, provide extra verification before a store charges your account.
- If a scammer charges your account, you can dispute the charge before paying the bill.
With debit cards, the money comes straight from your bank account. You can dispute a scam charge, but the funds are gone until your bank settles the dispute.
Do you plan to do any holiday shopping at “brick and mortar” stores? If so, limit the number of cards you carry. The fewer you have to replace, the better – if your purse or wallet gets stolen.
7. Avoid Suspicious Links
If you see a suspicious website, email, or text message – don’t click on the links or open the attachments. Even when it looks like a reputable source, it could be a copycat. Fakes are prevalent during the holiday season.
Cybercriminals use phishing and other tactics to infect your device with malware. This allows them to steal your money or personal data. Don’t give them a chance, and protect yourself from holiday scams.
8. Beware of Counterfeit Products
If you’re looking for good holiday deals, beware of counterfeit products. They can look like great deals, but when they finally arrive, they’re nothing like you expected.
Counterfeit goods may have damage or quality issues. Or they might be altogether different from what you ordered. You know the saying: When it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
AmeriChoice offers the following tips to avoid counterfeits:
- If the price seems low, compare prices at many different stores. If one is much lower than the others, it’s likely a counterfeit item.
- Sometimes a website looks real but has grammar or spelling errors. This is often a sign that the site’s product is counterfeit.
- Before you make any transactions, call customer service. Counterfeit sites usually don’t list a phone number, and they don’t answer calls.
While You Do Your Holiday Travel
Online fraud and identity theft are common crimes against travelers. In-country and abroad, during holidays and year round. How can you protect yourself from scams during holiday travel? Here are three tips to remember:
9. Go Straight to the Source
Like websites for counterfeit products, there are websites for fake travel agencies. They pretend to offer travel services, but they exist to scam you.
If you book a hotel or flight with them, you might experience unsecure transactions. Or you may never receive the room or ticket you purchased.
Protect yourself from holiday scams by going straight to the source. Book your room or flight with the hotel or airline you chose for your trip.
10. Limit Public Wi-Fi Use
Avoid using hotspots when you’re vacationing, especially to check accounts or make payments. Hackers can highjack your wireless connection on unsecured, public computers.
If you must shop online or access your accounts, use your mobile data. But it’s much better to wait until you have access to password-protected Wi-Fi again.
11. Don’t Share on Social Media
It can be tempting to share your holiday travels with your social network. But try to wait until you’re home again to do so. This is good practice before you go on your trip as well as during the holidays.
Criminals might be watching you online so they can rob your home when you’re away. So wait until after the holidays to post your pictures and stories.
While You Do Your Holiday Giving
Charitable giving is more social today thanks to donation features on social platforms. It’s easy to give by credit card or PayPal with the click of a button. This generates a story in your friends’ newsfeeds, letting them know of your support.
Today’s creative giving options make it easy for you to donate to your favorite charities. It also makes it easier for holiday scammers who attempt to take advantage of your desire to help others.
So here’s one more tip to protect yourself from holiday scams, when you give online:
12. Research Your Chosen Charity
Unfortunately, some people take advantage of the holiday spirit by impersonating charitable organizations. Before you do your holiday giving, take some time to investigate your chosen charity.
BBB Wise Giving Alliance and Charity Navigator are two reliable research sources. Wise Giving Alliance helps you review charities to find trustworthy ones to support. Charity Navigator rates charities based on financial health, transparency, and accountability.
Wrapping It Up
If you’re aware of a holiday scam – or, if you are the victim of one – report it to authorities immediately. Notify at least one of the following agencies:
- Your bank or credit card company
- Your local law enforcement office
- Your state attorney general’s office
- The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- The Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- The National Consumers League (NCL)
Scammers are criminals, very adaptive and opportunistic. Don’t give them a chance to scam you. Follow these tips for a safe and happy holiday season. ◻️
Related Posts
- 15 Ways to Stay Safe Online While You Travel or Vacation
- Beware of Holiday Scams: 5 Important Clues for Amazon Shoppers
- Public Wi-Fi Networks: 10 Tips for Safer Public Web Surfing
Now It’s Your Turn
Thank you for reading my post. Now it’s YOUR turn to chime in. Where do you typically shop for holiday gifts – online, or at a local store? How do you protect yourself from holiday scams?
Let’s fill the comments with friendly conversation. Scroll down to leave a reply, ask a question, or just say hello. And if you like this post, please give it a share.
Blessings, Annette
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It really helped when you described the importance of researching a charity before choosing to give to them. Recently, my parents mentioned they want to help our community by donating to a charity that helps children in need, so I’ll tell them all about your tips. Thank you for the advice on protecting yourself from charity scams.
You’re welcome, Eli. I’m glad my tips are helpful, and I so appreciate your comment. Have a great day!