Increased spending during the holidays creates more opportunities for scammers to target consumers.
Everyone is vulnerable, regardless of age or education level, as the holiday spirit makes people more trusting and prone to impulsive buying.
Pay attention to the tone and address of the website, as fake sites may have slight differences in characters or overall appearance.
Keep a record of your purchases and avoid clicking on suspicious links. Verify the legitimacy of the message before taking action.
Slow down and avoid acting out of urgency. Scammers often exploit the sense of urgency to trick victims.
Research the charity and visit its official website. Avoid providing personal information unless you are certain of its legitimacy.
Consider shopping in physical stores instead of online, as it makes it harder for scammers to target you.
Scammers exploit the urgency and excitement of the holiday season to make people act impulsively without verifying the authenticity of the offer.
With just a handful of shopping days until Christmas, millions are making last minute online purchases. Unfortunately 'tis also the season for financial and identity theft. We ask an expert how you can avoid the scams.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)