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AC Chamber sends BBB Tips on Holiday Scams Better Business Bureau Bulletin submiitted by Sue Stivers 'Tis the season for scammers and schemers! Whether it's on the internet, at the store, or at your very own front door, BBB warns to "watch out" for these holiday scams. Charity Schemes - Scammers will call you on the phone or knock on your front door. They'll wear seasonal outfits, dress in familiar looking uniforms, and carry forms of identification that look real. They'll convince you to give with stories that tug at your heart. Before you give, do your homework. Check out the charity at www.give.org. Don't fall for high-pressure tactics. Avoid "charities" whose representatives won't answer reasonable questions, such as how the money will be spent. Never supply credit card information over the phone, and never give cash or write checks payable to an individual solicitor. Gift Card Schemes - Handheld scanners and smart phones give thieves the tools they need to snag the information off the gift card as it hangs on the rack. The thief periodically calls the 800 number listed on the back of the card to verify it has been purchased and activated. Once activated, the thief uses the gift card to make online purchases. Only buy gift cards that are secured behind customer service desks, or cards with protected scratch-off security codes. Delivery Scams - You receive an email from what appears to be UPS or FEDEX, saying you have a package must be picked up. The email asks you to click a link to download a form. If you download the form, your computer becomes infected. Gift Basket Shams - You receive a phone call from someone claiming they have a package to deliver. A deliveryman arrives with a basket of flowers and wine. Since the gift contains alcohol, he asks you to pay a $3.50 "delivery charge" via debit or credit card. as proof the package was delivered to an adult. Excited, you don't think twice about handing your card over for payment. Several days later, you find unauthorized charges on your card. Package Theft - With more and more people shopping online this time of year, the BBB is warning people not to leave unattended packages on their doorsteps. Thieves have been caught on camera walking right up to houses and swiping packages. Police believe the criminals follow delivery trucks into neighborhoods. Have the package sent to your workplace or to a neighbor who is home. Suspicious Social Media Giveaways - Be wary of any giveaways or raffles on social media! They often advertise the season's hottest gifts. The offers solicit likes or shares to get distributed on social media feeds. They often direct you to a survey site and ask for personal information or a mobile number. Counterfeit Retailer Websites - Beware of websites that offer "too-good-to-be-true" prices on hot holiday items. They may appear legitimate, but they often send inferior merchandise - if they send anything at all. Many are just trying to steal your personal information. Look for a working customer service number or a brick and mortar store, and use a credit card to dispute the charges. Fake Santa Websites - Dozens of websites are registered in Santa's name, offering kids a chance to email Santa. Some of these sites are not trustworthy. They ask for personal information. Some may even contain "naughty" content. Check the site, twice, before you let your child get on the website. Be sure the site is only asking for information like a first name, and email address. Santa already knows where you live! Malware E-cards - Email greeting cards may appear to be from a friend or associate but actually contain a link that will download malicious software onto your computer to steal personal information. iPad Scams - iPads are one of the hottest ticket items this holiday season, and many name brand stores have sold a limited supply. This gives scammers the opportunity to take advantage of consumers. Some con artists run ads for cheaply priced iPads, or consumers are told they will receive a free iPad after purchasing additional products. In reality, they never receive any of the items. Other consumers take a quiz to receive a free iPad and then unknowingly provide personal information that signs them up for services they never purchased. This leads to identity theft. Puppy Scams - Getting a puppy for the holidays? Scammers create fake websites claiming to be puppy breeders. Consumers are lured in with cute pictures and promises of adopting a healthy puppy. Before the dog can be delivered, the expecting family must pay the adoption fee (usually hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars), shipping costs, insurance, and veterinarian fees via wire transfer. Once the money has been sent, the scammer tells the consumer their puppy is ready for pick-up at the nearest airport. After hours of waiting, the puppy never arrives. Check out the breeder with BBB before making a purchase. Also, check the breeder's credentials with the American Kennel Club, and obtain an independent veterinarian check up to ensure the puppy is healthy BEFORE the adoption. Holiday Rentals - Traveling for the holidays? Scammers post fake rentals asking for consumers to wire money for deposits on listed properties. The property doesn't exist and not only is the consumer out the money of the deposit, but they have nowhere to stay. Never wire money to anyone you don't know. Also, do your research on the property to make sure it exists. Ask for pictures and phone numbers of recent renters. If the price is extremely low, take this as a red flag and look for somewhere else to stay. For more holiday tips, go to bbb.org Reanna Smith-Hamblin, Vice President/Communications, Better Business Bureau serving Louisville, Southern Indiana, and Western Kentucky 844 South 4th Street, Louisville, KY 40203 This story was posted on 2014-12-09 12:17:36
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Ribbon cutting at Barbie's Playhouse and Learning Center Dr. Forrest E. Harris speaker for MLK Memorial Service at CU It's a good time to send Christmas Events Twas the Day Before Christmas…In Columbia Parade (Parody) Eunice Church of God annual holiday singing: Fri 12 Dec 2014 Free Union SBC Christmas Play is Sunday night 14 Dec 2014 Bowling Park, William White get 1sts in Metcalfe lighting contest Adair Co. Fiscal Court Agenda, Reg. Meeting, 9 Nov 2014 Whooping crane seen as close as Barren Co., KY Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe highly successful this year View even more articles in topic News |
 
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