Avoiding Scams This Holiday Season

Avoiding Holiday Scams

Finishing up your last-minute holiday shopping? There’s no doubt that this year, many are resorting to online shopping to avoid crowded stores and long lines. Unfortunately, this is the perfect opportunity for scammers to take advantage of those who are less versed in the world of e-commerce. The FBI Community Outreach Program has come up with a very helpful list of tips for holiday shopping that may help you avoid a holiday scam!

  1. Always get a tracking number for items purchased online so you can make sure they have been shipped and can follow the delivery process.

  2. Be wary of sellers who post an auction or advertisement as if they reside in the U.S., then respond to questions by stating they are out of the country on business, family emergency, or similar reasons.

  3. Avoid sellers who post an auction or advertisement under one name but ask that payment be sent to someone else.

  4. Consider canceling your purchase if a seller requests funds be wired directly to them via a money transfer company, pre-paid card, or bank-to-bank wire transfer. Money sent in these ways is impossible to recover, with no recourse for the victim.

  5. Avoid sellers who act as authorized dealers or factory representatives of popular items in countries where there would be no such dealers.

  6. Verify the legitimacy of a buyer or seller before moving forward with a purchase. If you’re using an online marketplace or auction website, check feedback ratings.

  7. Avoid buyers who request their purchase be shipped using a certain method to avoid customs or taxes inside another country.

  8. Be suspect of any credit card purchases where the address of the cardholder does not match the shipping address.

  9. Always be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

We hope that these 9 tips help you to be extra safe and cautious when online shopping this holiday season, and even after the holidays have passed! Lastly, we’d like to thank the FBI Community Outreach Program for putting this amazing list together and always keeping our safety a top priority!

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