As criminals continue to get more sophisticated with their scams, AAA is reminding consumers about the potential dangers involving online shopping, suspicious texts and emails, and gift card fraud. Cybercrime jumps nearly 30% during the holidays, thanks to an increase in online shopping and busy, distracted consumers.
“Unfortunately, scammers don’t take time off during this season. In fact, they are working even harder to come up with ways to gain access to your personal information and your money,” said Jim Garrity, director of public affairs, AAA East Central. “Thousands of people fall victim to these scams every year, and consumers need to be wary of any deal that seems too good to be true.”
AAA East Central identifies the top scams and advice for avoiding them:
Online Shopping Tricks
- The Scam: Fake websites that look like well-known brands.
- The Solution: Always double-check the URL. Fraudsters will tweak a single letter or swap endings (such as .biz instead of .com). Also, make sure the beginning of the URL starts with “https”; without the “s,” it’s not a secure site.
- The Scam: Phishing emails promoting incredible deals.
- The Solution: Don’t click a link that could be trying to access personal information. Hover over it first and the URL will be displayed. If that web address looks suspicious, delete the email. Better yet just go to the retailer’s official site.
- The Scam: Hackers lurking on public Wi-Fi, ready to intercept personal information.
- The Solution: Limit shopping or banking on public networks. Attackers can set up fake networks (called evil twin attacks) or access unencrypted data. Instead, use a VPN, which encrypts information and protects it from cybercriminals.
Charity Fraud
- The Scam: A phishing email from an unfamiliar nonprofit asks for a holiday donation.
- The Solution: Make sure the charity is legitimate by using a website such as BBB Wise Giving Alliance, or search for the nonprofit using the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool.
- The Scam: A text message pleads for money now.
- The Solution: Don’t be fooled by an emergency request that plays on emotion. Go to the charity’s official website and donate there, rather than through the phishing link.
Gift Card Fraud
- The Scam: A caller claims to be from a bank, the IRS, or even poses as a family member in trouble, insisting a fine be paid immediately using gift cards.
- The solution: No legitimate business or organization will ever demand payment via gift cards. If someone insists, simply hang up. Treat gift cards like cash: Once the number is shared, the money is gone.
- The scam: Criminals tamper with gift cards on store racks, scratching off the protective strip and covering it again so they can steal the funds once activated.
- The solution: Inspect gift cards carefully before buying them. If possible, ask the cashier for a gift card that has been stored securely behind the counter. Save receipts so there is proof of purchase if an issue arises. Another option: Order a gift card directly from a retailer’s website and have it delivered to the recipient via email.
Delivery Tricks
- The scam: A text or email says a package couldn’t be delivered and asks to click a link to reschedule.
- The solution: Delivery companies don’t send unsolicited messages asking for sensitive information. Don’t click the link. Instead, go directly to the carrier’s official website or use the tracking number provided at the time of purchase.
- The scam: A phishing email appears to come from a big-name company, asking to verify an order by clicking on a link.
- The solution: Go directly to the website where the order was placed to confirm it went through; never click on the email link. Other telltale signs of scam emails include greetings that don’t use names, urgent messaging to “act now” to avoid delivery delays, and grammatical or spelling errors.
By staying organized, checking accounts, and being vigilant, consumers can ensure they have a safe and secure holiday shopping season. More information about cybersecurity can be found here.
AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 69 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. AAA East Central provides services to its members including Automotive, Insurance, Discounts & Rewards, Financial, and Travel. Find out more about AAA Membership and current savings here.