Holiday scans are the gift that keeps on taking! Safeguard yourself and your loved ones this holiday season with free fraud resources from the AARP Fraud Watch Network. Their interactive Scam-Tracking Map allows you to see or report scams in your area in real time to more than 70 tip sheets, plus you’ll find a variety of resources to keep you and your loved ones protected from fraud.
Be on the lookout for these common holiday scams.
- Gift card scams – Asking to be paid by a gift card is always a scam. Always say no.
- Package delivery scams – 3 ways to avoid being targeted
- Charity scams – Know the do’s and don’ts of giving
- Online shopping scams – know the warning signs
Here are 5 “Don’ts” to avoid when shopping online:
- Don’t pay by wire transfer, money order or gift card. Sellers that demand these types of payments are scammers, and unlike with credit cards or reputable e-pay services, there’s little recourse to recover your money.
- Don’t assume a retail website is safe because it is encrypted. Many scam sites use encryption, indicated by a padlock icon or “https://” in front of the URL, to provide a false sense of security.
- Use other means, like those listed to the left, to confirm if a site is legit.
- Don’t provide more information than a retailer needs. That should be only your billing information and the shipping address.
- Don’t use sites that require you to download software or enter personal information to access coupons or discount codes.
- Don’t buy from sites that are very new, security software maker Norton recommends. Look for a copyright date, and use the WHOIS lookup service to see when a domain was created.
More Resources
- If you’ve been victimized by an online retail scam, file a report with the FTC and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The FTC website also has advice on safe online shopping.
- Report fishy e-shopping operations to the BBB Scam Tracker, which also lets your search for scams in your region.
- File a complaint with your state’s attorney general and consumer protection agency.
Source: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud
We hope this information is helpful to you in the important work you do as a family caregiver.
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