12 DAYS OF SCAMMING

There is no question about it, 2020 has been more than challenging,
but the New Year is right around the corner. Let’s hope 2021 brings us
goodness in the form of health and peace.
With the holidays here, I thought it would be helpful to recap some
common scams that have escalated during COVID-19 and also provide
a few shopping tips to keep you and your money safe.
Many of you have seen or heard about these scams, however you may
find some new information about them in the links below.
In the spirit of the holiday giving season, consider sharing this
information with your family and friends. The more people who know
about these scams, the fewer victims we will have.
I wish you all safe and healthy holidays.
Beth

DON’T LET A HO-HO-HOAX SPOIL YOUR HOLIDAYS.

Scammers work throughout the year to understand consumer habits so they will more easily be able to separate you from your money. Many of the tips provided here come from the Better Business Bureau 2020 Online Purchase Scams Report. Read more about each issue by clicking the headline under the photo.

CLICKED ON A TEXT
FROM AMAZON or IRS

Fake texts or message
updates can look like
these. Many of the texts
have attachments or links
to sites that will download
malware on your
computer to steal your
identity and passwords.
Remember, company
logos are easy to copy
and paste in to a website
or text.

DID NOT RESEARCH
PRODUCT REVIEWS

Before you buy, search
for product reviews on
the web. Do your
research. 81% of those
who did not research or
look at independent
reviews of the company
or product lost money

USED THE SAME
PASSWORD FOR EVERY
SITE

If you have not changed
your passwords recently
or are using the same
password for all your
accounts, start the New
Year off right by changing
all of them.

SHOPPED ON A FAKE
WEBSITE

Just because a website
looks good doesn’t mean
it’s real. Websites are
easy to create, and
scammers often use a
name similar to a real
business.

DIDN’T REVIEW FINANCIAL
STATMENTS

Read your financial
statements during the
holidays and beyond,
ensuring there are no
errors or fraudulent
charges. Run the report
for your children under
18, there should be
nothing on them. If there
are, dispute them
immediately.

BOUGHT AT CHEAP
PRICES

Online purchase scams
were among the top three
riskiest scams in 2020. If
you find the latest iPad
listed at an 80% discount,
chances are you will never
see the goods you
purchased or the money
you spent.

USED A DEBIT CARD
INSTEAD OF A CREDIT
CARD

Here are ten reasons why
you should use a credit
card versus a debit card.
Those who paid with a
credit card or PayPal were
less likely to lose money.

DIDN’T INSPECT A
GIFT CARD

Gift cards are a popular
and convenient way to
give someone a gift. They
are also a popular way for
scammers to steal money
from you.

BOUGHT A PUPPY
ONLINE

The BBB report stated that
in 2020 the riskiest
product to purchase was
pets and pet supplies.
25.2% of all reported
online purchase scams
were related to pets and
pet supplies with a
median dollar loss of
$660.