The Holidays are Coming...and so are the Holiday Scammers!

As online holiday shopping ramps up, so do scam attempts. A new AARP survey shows that over 80% of adults have faced some form of holiday-related fraud, yet many of us are unaware of scammers’ tactics – especially online.

The AARP holiday scams survey identified three specific threat areas: online shopping scams, gift cards with zero balance scams, and shipping scams. Here are tips to keep yourself safe from these deceptive tactics this winter.

When shopping online, visit sites you know and trust, and avoid clicking on offers or advertisements for deep discounts on hot items. The safest way to give a gift card is by purchasing it online through the retailer’s website. Check the balance when you receive a card and use it sooner than later. Lastly, if you receive a text claiming ‘problems’ with a shipment, don’t engage with it; if you are concerned about the status of a package, contact the shipper directly.

Airline Call Center Scams

With the holiday travel season fast approaching, scammers are ready to cash in on travelers eager for help with last-minute flight changes and cancellations. Don’t let a fake customer service agent derail your trip – or drain your wallet. Here’s what you need to know to stay ahead of airline call center scams.

 Just because an airline customer service helpline number appears at the top of internet search results doesn’t mean it’s legitimate. Search results can be filled with fraudulent phone numbers, and scammers are constantly finding new ways to get their numbers to show up at the top of results.

 Beware of any number tied to a result labeled as “Sponsored” or “Ad.” In addition, don’t call numbers that appear in wacky fonts or next to odd emojis; this is a common tactic scammers use to make their numbers both visually pop and appear towards the top. Lastly, remember to slow down. For instance, if your flight is canceled, you typically don’t need to pay to be rebooked. Any “agent” requesting a credit card to do so likely only has their own wallet at heart.

Check Twice Before Donating

It’s the season of giving, and for those in the spirit, telling the difference between a real charity and a fake one can be a challenge. Legitimate charities make a big push at year-end for last-minute annual donations. Scammers know this and make their own end-of-year push to line their pockets.

If a charity solicits you for a donation, even if your first instinct is to contribute, take a pause. Many fake charities have legitimate-looking websites and names, making them hard to identify as fraudulent. Others are registered nonprofits but devote little of the money they raise to the programs they promote.

Research the charity on sites such as give.org, CharityNavigator.org, or CharityWatch.org to make sure that it’s legitimate and to find out what percentage of their donations are actually used to serve their stated mission versus paying for overhead and fundraising.

Pet Scams

With families searching for new furry friends this holiday season, criminals are using adorable photos and heart-tugging tales (pun intended) to lure in unsuspecting pet seekers. Here are three ways you can stay ahead of pet scams this year:

1) Do your research and understand how much a certain breed costs. Avoid websites that offer deep discounts on the going rate.

2) Use the photo of the pet you are offered to conduct a reverse image search online (search “how to do a reverse image search” in your favorite browser). Scammers often copy pet photos from other websites.

3) If possible, shop locally. Meeting the breeder in person or touring the shelter facility lets you know it is legitimate. A seller that invents reasons why you can’t pick the pet up in person or demands an upfront payment shouldn’t be trusted.

4) Talk to your family about considering adopting a rescue as an option to going with a breeder.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.
Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.