The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently issued a “Naughty List” It is talking about the top 12 scams of the holiday season.
The BBB warns consumers to pay attention to these holidays, especially in email and social media, as scammers are taking advantage of the surge in online shopping related to the pandemic. The organization stated that it should carefully check discounted goods, event promotions, job opportunities, donation requests and direct information from strangers.
Another red flag? The organization stated that it is required to make payments or donations via wire or electronic transfer, through a third party, prepaid debit card or gift card.
The following is a list of the naughty of the Better Business Bureau:
1. Misleading social media advertising. You may see advertisements from small businesses that even claim to support charities. BBB Scam Tracker frequently receives reports that people pay for items they have never received from such advertisements after they charge a monthly fee for a free trial they never agreed to. Sometimes, consumers will receive counterfeit products or products that are different from those advertised. The 2020 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report found that online purchase scams were the most common reported malpractice and claimed to be the most victims. Before committing to payment, please check any questionable business information on BBB.org.
2. Social media gift exchange. This common scheme would require people to exchange gifts, submit email addresses, or send money to strangers in order to “forward.” BBB noticed a specific example of a “secret Santa Dog” scam. You bought a $10 gift for your “secret dog”. The BBB writes that in all variants, the trick is an “illegal pyramid scheme.”
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3. Vacation application. Before clicking “download”, be sure to check the privacy policy to understand what information the app collects. Also, be aware that some apps that claim to be free may have hidden costs—or worse, malware.
4. Alerts about compromised accounts. This scam involves people receiving alerts purporting to come from Amazon, PayPal or even a bank. A hypothetical alert informs people that their accounts have been included to collect information or funds. Remember, it’s best to contact these companies directly and don’t respond to suspicious text messages, emails, or phone calls.
5. Free gift card. Scammers can also rob consumers by sending a large number of phishing emails that ask for personal information in exchange for free gift cards, often pretending to be legitimate companies. Always verify before sharing sensitive information.
6. Temporary holiday work. Although many companies seek extra help during the holidays, you should be wary of job opportunities that seem too good to be true.
7. Similar websites. Be careful with emails that contain links, even if the site in the link looks familiar. This may be a trap to trick you into downloading malware or sharing private information.
8. False charity. The BBB wrote: “Donors are advised to pay attention to fraudulent charities and scammers who pretend to be people in need.” “Avoid making impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. Responsible organizations will welcome gifts tomorrow as they do today. “
9. False delivery notice. Scammers are increasingly taking advantage of the shift in e-commerce by sending phishing emails. A new technique is to try to steal funds by asking people to pay fraudulent shipping.
10. Pop-up holiday virtual activities. One type of scam that uses online activities due to the pandemic involves criminals creating fake event pages, social media posts, and emails about holiday sales. The goal is to eventually steal your credit card details, so check with the organizer before agreeing to any fees.
11. The most popular holiday wish list item. Whenever you find that the price of a luxury item is lower than usual, or, for example, a popular toy that is sold out in every store, be very careful. This transaction is probably because the product is a counterfeit.
12. Puppy scam. Many families hope to expand their family size with their four-legged friends during the holidays. The BBB warned: “However, you may become a victim of pet scams, which are on the rise this year.” “Requires to see pets in person before buying.”
