Beware of the Festive Scams

During the year-end holidays, fraud is at its pinnacle. Scammers know that while people are running about seeking discounts, they are more likely to let their defenses down than usual. Businesses, particularly those in the retail sector, should strive to beef up their own security systems to prepare for this surge in fraud. Always remember:

‘If it seems too good to be true, it probably is…’

Here’s a list of common holiday scams, as well as how to prevent them:

• Gift Card Scam: Scammers use gift card payment offers because they are simple to get and have fewer safeguards than other payment choices. Scammers frequently use phone pitches to encourage consumers to act fast in order to take advantage of a limited-time deal. The victims even get a spoof e-mail, a fake phone call, or a spoof text from someone in authority urging that they buy many gift cards for personal or professional purposes. After then, the gift cards are used to make purchases of products and services that may or may not be legitimate.
• Delivery Message Scam: Since the pandemic, the number of deliveries has increased dramatically. Sending a fake delivery notification which may appear to be from a well-known shipper such as Amazon or UPS, but it’s actually spyware looking for your personal information. This fake shipping link might lead to a false website that asks for a credit card number or personal information.
• Non-delivery/Non-payment Scam: A buyer pays for products or services they discover online but never receives them in a non-delivery scam. A non-payment scam, on the other hand, includes the shipment of goods or services but no payment to the vendor. 
• Online Shopping Scams: Scammers sometimes use phishing emails or adverts to offer unbelievable offers. Brand-name products may be offered at extremely low costs, or gift cards may be offered as an incentive. Other websites may promote low prices, but the things offered are not the same as the ones advertised. Victims may pay for something, give away personal information, and receive nothing in return but a tainted name.
• Travel Offers Scam: People are eager to come home for the holidays or go somewhere warm for vacation, which results in a spike in travel bookings around this time of year. Scammers take advantage of this trend by generating enticing – but phoney – vacation offers. The Better Business Bureau issues cautions about holiday travel scams on a regular basis. People may believe they are getting a holiday “bargain” that includes low-cost flights, vehicle rentals, and hotels, but they are actually giving out personal information.

Steps to follow:

• Always make your purchase from a reliable and safe website.
• Be aware of gifts and promotions that ask for personal information.
• Never hand out personal information to strangers, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, or billing addresses.
• Secure all bank accounts with strong passwords or passphrases before purchasing online.
• Avoid solicitations or advertisements that contain misspelt words, poor English, or demands to pay with a gift card.
• Check your bank and credit card accounts on a regular basis, especially after making online purchases and in the weeks after the holidays.
• Emails professing to provide photographs in attached files should be avoided since the attachments may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders, and if at all feasible, screen all attachments for malware.
• When interacting with people from other countries, exercise caution.
• Before making a transaction, be sure the buyer or vendor is legitimate. Check feedback ratings if you’re utilising an online marketplace or auction website.
• Always track your order by looking at the confirmation email you received when you placed it.