As people shop for family and friends during the holidays, there may be criminals looking to lure people into their holiday season scams.
This article includes tips, suggestions and general information. We recommend that you always do your own research and consider getting independent tax, financial and legal advice before making any important decision.
This article will introduce some of the most common scams that may target people during busy shopping periods, around public holidays, or national days.
Phishing refers to deceptive attempts by malicious actors to trick people into revealing sensitive information. Such information might include usernames, passwords, or credit card details.
As people spend more time online browsing sales during busy shopping periods, learn how to spot and prevent phishing with these potential tips:
Charity scams are another deceptive scheme. These scams may involve fraudsters posing as representatives of legitimate charities. They can become more common after disasters, humanitarian crises, or during holidays. To stay protected, consider these factors:
Fraudulent online stores are ones that mimic the appearance of honest retailers. Designed to trick consumers, such stores may 'sell' products that do not exist, are never delivered, or are not as advertised.
People may be able to identify a fake shop if they notice:
Shoppers may be able to identify fake shops by checking the company's location, policies, and track record of customer service. A lack of transparency could be a red flag.
Social media is often another source of scams targeting shoppers around the holiday season. Individuals can protect themselves by being sceptical about what they see on social media.
Here are some potential tips:
With travelling more common during the festive season, it's important for individuals to be aware of common scams around flight and other transport bookings, as well as those linked to holiday rentals and other stays away from home.
Potential signs of scams include overly discounted flights or hotel room rates, fake travel agency websites and social media accounts, and the phishing attempts mentioned above.
People may be able to reduce their risk of holiday scams with these steps:
To help curb online shopping fraud during the holidays, it’s important to remain up-to-date and vigilant about common holiday shopping scams. When in doubt, scrutinise websites before making a purchase, take precautions when sharing sensitive information, and avoid clicking on spontaneous or unverified links in emails and text messages.
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