5 Holiday Scams to Avoid

While many of these scams are used throughout the year, these select few are given a new twist for the holidays.  If you have any questions about a transaction or feel you may be the victim of a scam contact your local LegalShield Independent Associate to see how LegalShield can help protect you and your family today.

1. Bait-and-Switch - Scammers frequently use cheap tablets, smart phones, MP3 players, jewelry and gift cards as part of bait-and-switch scams. They may approach potential victims in a mall, on the street or through the Internet offering a deal that is too good to be true. They may even allow the victim to check out the item, but rest assured after the money is exchanged the victim will not get the item they are expecting. Only purchase big-ticket items from respected retailers and avoid this common holiday Scam.
2. Hard Luck Stories - Scammers often take advantage of the holiday spirit of giving. They may send victims an email requesting assistance or approach victims in public. Scammers will often have an elaborate hard luck story and sometimes even use children to elicit sympathy from victims. Some scammers may also pose as stranded holiday travelers in need of assistance to get home for the holidays.  Be wary of these scams and never give out your address, bank information or large amounts of cash to strangers.
3. Charity Scams - Fake charity scams also take advantage of the spirit of giving. Beware of scam charity emails. Research a charity before making a donation and make sure they are legitimate. You should never make large donations in cash and always ask for a receipt when making a large donation.
4. Gift Card Swap - The rise in popularity of gift cards has led to a new type of scam. Scammers will use high tech scanners to read the numbers off of the gift cards sold in the aisles of major retailers. They will then return the cards to the store shelf and monitor them to see when they are activated. Once activated, they will use the card numbers to spend the funds before the intended recipient has a chance to use the card. Whenever possible purchase your card from behind the counter of a retailer.
5. Email Greetings - Holiday emails can sometimes be a Trojan horse for hackers. Do not open attachments from senders you do not know and be wary of strangely worded emails. Make sure your computer’s antivirus software is up to date and use it to scan anything suspicious.