BBB's Naughty List: Top Holiday Scams This Shopping Season
(Metro Creative)
The holidays are fast approaching, and with them come myriad scams, according to the Better Business Bureau.
Posted
Joe Ducey | Better Business Bureau
Where there is money, there are scams, and every year we see online holiday shopping full of them. So, how will scammers try to trick you this year? Here’s the Better Business Bureau’s naughty list of top holiday scams:
Misleading Social Media Ads: Admit it. Ads on our feeds get our attention. Many of the BBB Scam Tracker shopping complaints start on social media. In some cases, the items are paid for but never arrive. Other items arrive but are far different than what was advertised. Stick with sites you know and check out reviews before ordering at bbb.org
Temporary Jobs: Need some extra money? How about a job just for the holidays. Employment scams are always one of BBB Scam Tracker’s number one complaint areas. But scammers are listing even more fakes this time of year. Warning signs: big money for little work, hiring without an interview, and demanding you pay them to get the job. Also, no real employer will send a big check before you do anything!
Online Holiday Gift Exchanges: It’s an old scam that you can expect to see again. BBB gets complaints about ‘secret sister' and wine or bourbon exchanges. Some of them are pyramid schemes. They work by sending gifts or money to someone and expect someone to send you the same. But these schemes usually end with people spending and getting nothing. In the meantime, they’ve involved family and friends and given up personal information.
Free Gift Cards: It’s our favorite four-letter word, free! Scammers know it and promise free gift cards if you sign up or give up some personal information. They pose as legitimate businesses rewarding you as a loyal customer or say you won a contest. The offer can come in an email or text. If you get something similar, don’t open or click on any links. If you think your store is offering something free, go to your account or to the store’s official website to check.
Fake Shipping Notifications: It’s a big scam all year. But package delivery notification scams are even bigger during the holidays because of so many deliveries. Scammers send texts and emails about some delivery issue, trying to get you to pay more or get your private information. Scammers may also try to download malware onto your device. Again, never click on expected links. You can track packages through your carrier’s site.
Check the rest of BBB’s top 12 holiday scams and how to avoid them.
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