Episode # 429, "Common Scams To Watch For, And How To Avoid Them"
Scammers are always trying to steal our information and ultimately our money. During the holidays, they take advantage of the increased online and in-person shopping activity, as well as the spirit of giving and goodwill.
As we near the holiday season, we are going to share a number of scams and ways to avoid them.
Today, we are talking about some common scams to watch out for today, and especially during the coming holiday season.
Let's talk about some common scams to watch out for, and how to avoid them.
Fake Websites:
Some look EXACTLY like the legitimate sites of companies
Be cautious of unfamiliar online stores that offer deals that seem too good to be true.
May not receive your order
Verify the legitimacy of the website
Check for customer reviews and
Is there contact information ?
Phishing Emails:
Be wary of emails that claim to be from well-known retailers but ask for personal or financial information.
Always double-check the sender's email address and avoid clicking on suspicious links.
The website may be a cloned site, but directed to the scammer
Also, an email stating you have an undeliverable package requiring more info. Always check with the vendor for verification.
Counterfeit Products:
When shopping online, be cautious of counterfeit products,
especially on marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.
May receive a "bait and switch" item
cheap knock-off
Read product reviews and check for authenticity.
If it's too good to be true, it probably is
Fake Charities:
Scammers may pose as charitable organizations to steal your money.
Are you following the Israel-Gaza war in the news and want to help by donating to a charity?
Scammers follow the news, too, and are at the ready.
Just like in the wake of a natural disaster, scammers set up fake charities to take advantage of your generosity.
Before donating, verify the legitimacy of the charity by checking their website and researching their mission and activities.
Some sites for checking charity scams:
Do a charity check to find the organization’s tax status
The CharityCheck101 directory includes all 1,845,233 nonprofits in the IRS list
(IRS release dated on October 9, 2023).
. Before you give, you should know the answers to these two questions –
- Is the organization recognized as a charity or nonprofit by the IRS?
- Will a donation be deductible as a charitable contribution?
Three sites you can use to verify charities and non-profits:
https://www.irs.gov › newsroom › irs-beware-of-fake-charities-check-before-donating
https://charitycheck101.org/
https://consumer.ftc.gov/all-scams/charity-scams
Unsolicited Donation Requests:
Be cautious of unsolicited donation requests, whether via email, phone, or in person.
Verify the requestor's identity and donate through established channels.
Again, use the charity checker websites
Our Rule: We don't do ANY business by telephone unless we initiate the call.
We do NOT donate to ANY unsolicited calls.
"Yes Or No" Phone Scam the caller asks "can you hear me?" Your automatic response is "yes", but the scammer is recording it to fake sign you up for a subscription or something else you did NOT agree to. This one is tricky, because you must be so careful with your response. If the scammer insists you answer yes or no, then say no, hang up, and report that phone # as a fraud site.
Gift Card Fraud: Scammers may sell fake or partially used gift cards. Buy gift cards from reputable sources, and check the packaging for tampering.
Social Media Scams:
Fake Promotions:
Be cautious of social media ads or posts
promoting giveaways, contests, or exclusive deals.
Scammers may use these to steal personal information or money.
Also, fake retailers and product offers too inexpensive to be true.
Impersonation:
Scammers might impersonate friends or family members on social media,
asking for money or sensitive information.
Grandson in jail or hospital - send money
Verify their identity through other means before responding.
We have "Code words" to verify identity
Offering fake services
In the podcast world
Direct messages offering to promote our podcast
They can get for us, 100,000 ORGANIC downloads, 500 five star ratings, and 50 genuine five star reviews
They have a bank of computers running bots.
All the statistics are fabricated, and when you quit paying, the numbers drop back to where you were
Some are very persistent, and annoying!
Fake Travel Deals:
Be careful when booking travel deals that seem too good to be true.
Use established travel agencies or official airline and hotel websites to avoid fraudulent bookings.
Romance Scams:
Romance scams tend to increase during the holidays as people seek companionship.
Be cautious when interacting with strangers online,
especially if they ask for money or personal information.
E-card Scams:
Be cautious when receiving e-cards or holiday greetings via email.
Scammers may use them to spread malware or gather personal information.
If it is a from a "friend" on social media, verify they sent it before opening
Tech Support Scams:
Scammers may pose as tech support representatives, claiming your computer or devices are infected.
We had this happen on Krista's computer. It locked up, and a pop up screen claiming to be from Microsoft had a phone number to call. Would not clear it, and Krista called. The guy anted $200 to "repair" it.
We fixed it in about two minutes, with our antivirus software, for free.
Always verify the legitimacy of tech support calls and don't give out personal or financial information.
You look up the number from the legit site and make the call
Banking Scams:
Be wary of unsolicited calls or messages from people claiming to be from your bank,
asking for personal or financial information.
Call your bank using the official contact information to confirm their identity.
ILL: We get them from banks we don't use telling us our account has been locked
Another that is not actually a scam, but we need to watch out for is…
Package Theft:
Porch Pirates: Package theft increases during the holiday season. Consider using package lockers, requiring a signature for delivery, or having packages delivered to a secure location.
Be cautious. Be suspicious. Verify the legitimacy of individuals and organizations during the holiday season.
If something feels suspicious or too good to be true, or they are rushing you to make a “donation” TODAY, trust your instincts. Protect your personal and financial information. Legitimate charities have no problem with you checking them out, AND they’ll need your donation just as much tomorrow.
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