By now, you know to watch out for online scams.
Were getting deep into the holidays, though, and its a really busy time of year.
Americanslose nearly $6 billion a year to fraud.
Shop online in peace knowing your packages will reach you safely with theseseven tips for outsmarting porch pirates.
But the holidays bring out their own special kind of scams ones that are tailored specifically for Christmas shoppers.
Its not personal they targeteverybody.
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
Balance Transfer = Credit Card Cheat Code
1.
Thats the best part!
But dont punch the link in that text or email, even though it might seem super convenient.
Take a closer look at the sender and recipients,the Better Business Bureau advises.
Amazon and eBay and Etsy make this super easy.
Most legitimate online retailers do.
Or a $20 gift card.
Or even a $5 gift card.
Nobodys handing out gift cards willy-nilly.
Were all susceptible to this scam because rampant inflation has us all short of money.
Who couldnt use an extra 50 bucks or so?
But this is another phishing attack!
They should be able to tell you.
We Guarantee Itll Be There by Christmas
Unrealistic promises about shipping times are a huge red flag.
Sure, everybody wants fast, free delivery.
If the delivery date youre being offered sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Whatever this is, its probably not a legitimate offer.
Dont fall for it.
More Tips for Foiling Holiday Scammers
The financial fraudsters will be busy little elves this season.
Here are a few other tips to keep in mind.
Watch for red flags before typing in any personal or payment information.
If those elements are missing, its best to take your business elsewhere.
Return policiesand shipping policies should also be clear and easy to understand, the BBB adds.
Well now, this gets a little tricky.
Normally we dont encourage lots of spending on credit cards because ofrising credit card debtand risingcredit card interest rates.
But in this case,a credit card typically offers better fraud protection on purchasesthan a debit card does.
But it isnt hard to find a credit card company that will offer you a $0 liability benefit.
Its not like your checking account, where a fraudulent charge could cause your rent check to bounce.
What If You Still Get Scammed?
Your first move is to report the scam to local law enforcementand to the Federal Trade Commission.
Change your passwords if you think a scammer obtained them.
Contact your bank if your debit card was used or your account information was given out.
Contact your credit card company if something was charged to your card.
If you got scammed online, verify to check your gear with antivirus software for malicious software or malware.
Like we said, those financial fraudsters are going to be busy little elves this season.
Theyre definitely on the naughty list.
Remember, its the most fraudulent time of the year.
Watch out for Frosty the Scam Man!
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Ask one of these companies to help…
