A new study projects online shopping scams will surge this holiday season as consumers set to spend a record $207 billion online.
Fake websites, Instagram giveaways, and Secret Santa contents are the common scams consumer need to avoid right now.
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SocialCatfish.com today released a study on Online Shopping Scams to Avoid This Holiday Season using data from the FTC and the FBI’s IC3 through 2020.
Illinois is the No. 6 most at-risk state, having lost $150 million to fraudsters last year, when a record $4.2 billion was stolen nationally.
Online shopping has also been the No. 1 most common scam reported to the FTC in Illinois relating to the pandemic, which has led to the scam surge with more people operating online.
Here are 5 Online Shopping Scams to Avoid This Holiday Season:
- MISSING PACKAGE SCAM: Capitalizing on inevitable supply chain delays, scammers pretend to be FedEx and send an email with a link to track your package. When clicked on, these malicious links steal your personal and financial information. They also may text, leave voicemails, or place a “missed delivery” tag on your front door.
How to Avoid: Never click a link or call back a number from an unexpected delivery notice. Always contact the company directly using a verified number or website.
- SOCIAL MEDIA SECRET SANTA: A pyramid scheme called “Secret Sister” is circulating on Facebook. Scammers recruit “sisters” with the promise that if they buy a $10 gift for another member, they will receive 36 gifts in return. A version of this scam includes exchanging bottles of wine.
How to Avoid: Do not respond to communication from “Secret Sister” or do an exchange “for the good of the sisterhood.”
- FAKE RETAILERS AND WEBSITES: Look out for fake websites that advertise enormous sales on popular gift ideas that are out of stock everywhere else due to supply chain issues. Fake sites have a domain name with an extraneous letter or number, grammatical errors, and limited contact information.
How to Avoid: Research the company and read customer reviews before purchasing. Google their name with the word “scam” to see if anything comes up.
- HOLIDAY CHARITY GIFT SCAM: In addition to traditional gifting, people may donate to charity on someone’s behalf. This increased during COVID-19 and ramps up every year during the season of giving. Scammers pose as a fake charity to solicit fraudulent donations. Often, they pick a name that sounds close to a well-known charity.
How to Avoid:Search the charity on a public database such as BBB Wise Giving Alliance and Charity Navigator.
- FAKE INSTAGRAM GIVEAWAYS: Around the holidays, brands and influencers offer free product giveaways. Scammers are using a technique called “like-farming,” where they ask you to like or comment on their post for a chance to win a holiday prize. They include malicious links and steal your personal information.
How to Avoid: Look for the blue checkmark which social media platforms use to verify a real page from copycats. Watch for typos and accounts with limited content.
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