The holidays can be lucrative for scammers
Free gift cards
Scammers may send phishing emails and texts attempting to get your personal information. There will be offers of free gift cards that appear to be from a legitimate company. If you click on these offers, scammers can download malware on your computer or take you to a fraudulent site where you will be asked for personal information.
Look-alike retail websites
Be very careful when you are online shopping this holiday season. Scammers will create fake websites that look legitimate and have fooled many with stolen images and text from a legitimate one. The U.S. Trade Commission states that an excellent example of a well-known brand that is repeatedly faked online is the toy company Little Tikes. There have been hundreds of complaints about purchases made on sites that enticed viewers with up to 70% off. Watch for blurry photos and grammatical errors. The web address should also have a closed padlock symbol if it is a secure site.
Fake travel ads
The holiday season is also travel time for many people, and post-pandemic, they are returning to more popular and expensive cities. When you search for flights and travel packages, you will notice that pop-ups and social media ads appear for travel. They may offer unbelievable discounts, but you may find that if you book through them, you will wind up charged more with no reservation and no refund. It pays to book directly with the airline or secure sites like Expedia, Priceline and Trivago.
Fake charities
Don’t be scammed out of money during the season of giving! You will receive emails, phone calls and texts asking for charitable donations for legitimate causes. Please contact the actual charity or cause before you donate, and do not hesitate to refuse high-pressure requests. Ask for their charitable tax number and confirm that they are registered with the Canada Revenue Agency.
Fake shipping and delivery notices
You may do a lot of online shopping during the holidays. Scammers will send out fake shipping notifications. Do not click on links unless you verify they are from a legitimate company. It may download malware on your computer. If you receive a “missed delivery” notification at your home, be mindful that you do not tell them any personal information if you call the number.
Christmas is the season for giving, but definitely not to scammers. Take your time and spend your money wisely.
