The holiday season brings joy, festivities, and unfortunately, an increased risk of falling victim to various types of fraud. As shoppers eagerly scour online stores for the perfect gifts, criminals seize the opportunity to exploit the busy and distracted atmosphere. Here are some common types of fraud to be particularly vigilant about during the holidays.
Charity Scams
Some scammers try to take advantage of the season of giving by posing as charities - some will pretend to be representatives of real charities, and others will send donation requests for entirely fake charities. In either case, the best defense is doing your research. If you regularly donate to a lot of different charities during the holidays, make sure that you’re sending your money to the right places.
Gift Card Theft
Before you buy a gift card from a store during the holidays, make sure that it hasn’t been tampered with and that the code isn’t visible. Some scammers will take note of the codes on store racks, then wait for them to be activated when you purchase them at the register, knowing that the card won’t be used until after Christmas. By that time, the scammer has already spent the money.
Package Theft
Porch pirates know that online shopping and package deliveries are more common during the holidays, making it the ideal time to steal boxes off doorsteps. If you get packages delivered to your house during the holidays, make sure to schedule the deliveries for when you are home, and keep an eye on your phone notifications so you can bring them in as soon as possible.
Some online retailers also offer the option to have your items shipped to a locker near you, which only you can open with a code they send you. This is a little less convenient than having your items shipped directly to your house, but it avoids the risk of having your packages stolen off your front porch.
Vacation Rental Scams
The holidays are a popular time for scammers to set up fake vacation rental listings, since they know that options are limited with so many people visiting family. Before you pay for a vacation rental, check reviews from previous tenants and search for the address online to double-check that it’s actually there.
Some vacation rental scammers will ask you to pay them directly, which makes it harder for you to get your money back. If you’re using a platform like AirBnB or VRBO, it’s safest to pay the owner through that platform.
As always, be cautious when sharing personal information, use secure and reputable websites for any online transactions, and double-check before you hit “pay”. If there are any topics you would like to hear more about, we invite you to email them to marketing@gulfbank.com with the subject line “Let’s Talk”.
