{"id":5060,"date":"2023-10-24T09:53:09","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T14:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=5060"},"modified":"2025-07-24T12:45:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T17:45:42","slug":"avoid-these-online-scams-sure-to-surface-this-holiday-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lg-staging.lougcloud.com\/?p=5060","title":{"rendered":"Avoid These Online Scams Sure to Surface This Holiday Season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-85bp3-f856194ef33e7bc72ec0d3bf98278fce\">\n.flex_column.av-85bp3-f856194ef33e7bc72ec0d3bf98278fce{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-85bp3-f856194ef33e7bc72ec0d3bf98278fce av_one_full  avia-builder-el-0  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-k0pon615-92ea21455f84089b14b66129c69212c2 '  ><div class='avia_textblock' ><h1>Avoid These Online Holiday Scams Sure to Surface This Holiday Season<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-k0pop9td-bbcbe599b29853166e54fa81e9bef78a '  ><div class='avia_textblock' ><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The holidays are a special time of year. Cybercriminals particularly love the season. Potential victims, caught up in holiday spirit and feelings of generosity, are more inclined to let their guard down. Subsequently, scams involving fraudulent deals, package deliveries, sales promotions, gift cards and even fake websites are more likely to succeed.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ic3.gov\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, the FBI\u2019s cybercrime tracking public resource, noted within its <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ic3.gov\/Media\/PDF\/AnnualReport\/2022_IC3Report.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">most recent annual report<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> that the number of annual complaints it\u2019s received have more than doubled from about 350,000 in 2018 to more than 800,000 in 2022. Worse, the corresponding losses related to those cybercrimes more than tripled from $2.7 billion in 2018 to $10.3 billion in 2022. Non-payment and non-delivery complaints (in which a victim pays for goods they never receive or ship merchandise for which they never receive payment) and personal data breaches (in which victims provide their personal and banking information unknowingly to a cybercriminal), which constitute more than 100,000 complaints reported to the agency each year, are particularly problematic threats during the holidays.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The first step combatting this year\u2019s online holiday scams is recognizing the various ways such threats surface. And surface they do. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aarp.org\/money\/scams-fraud\/info-2019\/holiday.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">AARP notes<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> some 75 percent of US consumers have either experienced or been targeted by at least one form of holiday fraud. The organization adds that these scams especially target online shopping. So be wary of any of the following scams often associated with fraudulent holiday shopping and resist responding to such solicitations, which constitutes the second step in combatting annual holiday frauds that depend upon your goodwill and holiday cheer, along with maybe a little suspension of belief so common to the season, to succeed.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Package Delivery Scams<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hackers love sending phishing messages\u2014both by email and by text\u2014to trick you into clicking on links or providing personal information. Knowing you\u2019re likely sending and receiving packages for the holidays, cybercriminals disguise these efforts within emails and text messages regarding deliveries. These fake messages often reference a problem with a package you sent or a shipment you\u2019re awaiting. But these phishing messages aren\u2019t referring to a real package or legitimate delivery. Instead, they\u2019re trying to trick you into clicking on a link that could install ransomware or connect to a site that collects your personal information so the cybercriminals can steal your identity. Just ignore and delete such entreaties.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Charity Scams<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Many Americans make sizable charitable contributions during the holidays. Fake charities, fraudulent promotional messages and nefarious telemarketers all seize on that trend by seeking donations to their sham initiatives. Whenever making a donation, first do some homework, especially if the supposed nonprofit organization is particularly pushy or seeks an immediate donation. So, too, should you avoid holiday charity solicitations that request payments in cash or by gift card or wire transfer. When making charitable donations, first research the organization\u2014<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.charitynavigator.org\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Charity Navigator<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.charitywatch.org\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">CharityWatch<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/charities-non-profits\/tax-exempt-organization-search\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">IRS\u2019 list of valid tax exempt organizations<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> can help you\u2014 to confirm its legitimacy and, when making a donation, pay by credit card and never provide such personal information as your Social Security number or date of birth.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Gift Card Scams<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gift cards can\u2019t really be traced so they\u2019re a favorite form of compensation hackers prize. Online holiday shopping scams often insist you pay using a gift card or wire transfer. Unless you\u2019re absolutely certain the vendor with which you\u2019re working is legitimate, avoid both forms of payment when holiday shopping on the web, especially as <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">the FBI recommends<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> using a credit card when shopping online.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Fake Websites<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Whether trying to trick you into making a sham charitable contribution or saving money thanks to a deep discount on this holiday season\u2019s most popular purchases, hackers register websites whose spelling might be similar to a trusted retailer. Cybercriminals even prop up fake websites impersonating legitimate outlets and <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">purchase ads<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> on popular search engines and social media apps to try and lure you to these fraudulent webpages. The FBI recommends taking several steps whenever purchasing from an unfamiliar online vendor including checking the website\u2019s URL to ensure it\u2019s legitimate and contains https: within the address, reading the online site\u2019s reviews and avoiding purchasing from supposed authorized dealers or outlets overseas. And <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">the FBI reminds you<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> that, as the saying goes, \u201cIf it seems too good to be true, it probably is.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Phony Gift and Travel Offers<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Other common holiday frauds include emails and ads that promise free or heavily discounted gifts or travel. As the FBI noted regarding suspicious website offers, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. It\u2019s best to ignore solicitations, especially from unknown parties, when they offer free gifts or trips for a fraction of the normal price. Same thing for heavily discounted goods and travel. Ignore such offers and shop only reputable outlets.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Holiday Cards<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Watch out, too, for greeting cards sent via email. Hackers often employ fake holiday greetings to trick you into clicking on a nefarious link that loads a virus or ransomware or providing personal information that can be used to steal your identity or access your financial accounts. While the sender might act as if you know one another, or state you\u2019ve previously done business together\u2014one common theme is to reference a recent purchase you made from the company\u2014they\u2019re lying. You haven\u2019t done business with them before. You don\u2019t know them. They don\u2019t really wish you holiday blessings. Instead, they\u2019re trying to dupe you into clicking on an infectious link or provide your personal information so they can steal your identity and funds. Avoid responding to holiday cards sent to you by email and holiday well wishes sent by text when you\u2019re uncertain who actually sent the message or you don\u2019t definitively recognize the other party.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Stay On Guard This Holiday Season<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Protect yourself from holiday scams. It\u2019s that time of year, so be particularly suspicious whenever receiving unexpected texts and strange email messages and remain wary of online ads, promotions and websites offering deals that seem too good to be true.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Several government agencies and organizations maintain news sites and resources designed to assist spotting and avoiding holiday scams. Here are a few to consider visiting throughout the holiday season for the latest updates and alerts.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5063,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech-tips"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Avoid These Holiday Scams This Season: Stay Safe Online<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Be wary of unsolicited messages, promotions, and websites during the holidays. 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