As we all know, the holidays are a time of joy and happiness. But for some people, it can also be a time of heartache and financial ruin. This is especially true if you’re one of the unlucky ones who fall victim to holiday shopping scams. As we all know, the holidays are a time of joy and happiness. But for some people, it can also be a time of heartache and financial ruin. This is especially true if you’re one of the unlucky ones who fall victim to holiday shopping scams. According to the Black Friday survey from PissedConsumer.com 24% of consumers won’t shop this Black Friday because they believe that retailers manipulate shoppers and 16% think that retailers raise prices before the sale. Here are some tips to help you protect yourself from these scams and ensure a safe and happy holiday season!
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How to Spot a Fake Gift
If you’re shopping for someone else this holiday season, it’s important to be aware of the common scams people fall for. Here are four tips to help protect yourself:
- Check the price. A good way to spot a fake gift is if the price is too good to be true. If you’re not sure whether something is a good deal or not, ask the person you’re buying it for.
- Don’t pay with cash. Many times, scammers will ask you to pay in cash so that they can’t track your purchase down later. Instead, use a credit card or a debit card that you can easily track and cancel if necessary.
- Beware of suspicious emails and text messages. If an email or text message asks for personal information such as your bank account number or password, be suspicious and delete it immediately.
- Be flexible about what you want in a gift. There’s no need to overspend on gifts this year – sometimes all you need is something special that the person you’re shopping for will love!
Know the Warning Signs of a Scam
The holiday season is a time of joy and happiness, but it can also be a time when scammers target unsuspecting consumers. Here are five tips to help you protect yourself from holiday shopping scams:
1. Be aware of unsolicited email offers. Scammers often use mass emailing techniques to reach many people at once with scam offers. If you receive an unsolicited email that you think maybe a scam, do not open or respond to it immediately. Instead, contact your trusted anti-fraud resource for more information about potential scams and how to protect yourself.
2. Beware of online ‘door-to-door’ salesmen. Many online scammers use ‘door-to-door’ sales tactics to try and get your personal information. If someone you don’t know approaches you on the street asking if they can sell you something, chances are they’re a scammer looking to steal your money. Always be wary of strangers who approach you in public places and ask for help selling anything – especially if the offer sounds too good to be true.
3. Do not give out your financial information over the phone or online. Criminals often try to gain access to financial information by pretending to be representatives from banks or other financial institutions such as PayPal or Amazon Payments. Don’t fall for this ploy – always ask questions before giving out any personal information, even if the person seems legitimate and seems like they know what they’re talking about.
How to Keep Your Holiday Funds Safe
Keep your holiday money safe by following these tips:
1. Check the company’s reputation. Look for online reviews and consumer feedback before shopping online. According to the latest survey, consumers prefer big retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, or Home Depot for holiday shopping. However, very often come across difficulties with contacting support, especially amazon customer service. So keep this in mind, the bigger retailer the fewer chances to reach out to support.
2. Don’t give out your personal information. Avoid giving out your Social Security number, bank account number, or other sensitive information to unfamiliar sellers.
3. Make sure the seller has the product before you pay. Check the product picture, description, and price against what is available online before making a purchase.
4. Beware of unexpected fees. Many scams involve charging high fees for products that are not necessary or shipping charges that seem too high to be reasonable. Be suspicious if you are asked to pay more than the item’s actual value to receive it quickly.
How to Avoid Scams on Social Media
There are many social media scams out there designed to steal your money. Make sure you know how to protect yourself before you shop online this holiday season.
1. Use a trusted browser extension: Many great browser extensions can help protect you from various types of scams. One example is the anti-spam extension, which prevents spammers from sending you unsolicited emails.
2. Check the company’s reputation: Before shopping on any website, do a quick search to see if the company has a good reputation and whether anyone has had problems with them in the past.
3. Always verify the information: When you are interacting with companies online, always verify the information by asking for documentation or contacting customer service. This will help ensure that you are dealing with a legitimate business.
4. Don’t give out personal information: Never give out your personal information such as your Social Security number or bank account numbers to businesses online.
