By Mary O’KEEFE

Although there really is not one season for scams they do seem to increase during the holidays because so many people are looking for that one spectacular deal. 

One rule of thought during this season of bargain shopping is “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is urging the public to remain vigilant against an uptick in scams targeting holiday shoppers and charitable donors. Criminals are exploiting the busy shopping period, using increasingly sophisticated tactics to steal money and personal information,” according to the FBI.

“Criminals don’t take holidays off,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “We’re seeing scammers employing aggressive and creative schemes to take advantage of the season’s generosity and high online shopping activity.”

Those on social media most likely have seen ads of “one-of-a-kind items” at amazing prices. Looking through the comments regarding these offers many warn fellow shoppers, sharing stories of funds paid and no items being sent or of the item received that is not anything like the photo of what was ordered.

The FBI also warns of online shopping scams. These include “items purchased through third-party marketplaces using stolen credit cards or accounts, and puppy scams involving fake advertisements for pets, with losses reported at $5.6 million so far this year.”

There are also individuals who prey on the charitable nature of people using charity scams. People are warned to be aware of fake charities soliciting donations through phone calls, emails, crowdfunding platforms and social media. There are also copycat organizations mimicking legitimate charities to steal funds. 

The FBI also warns of cyptocurrency investment scams including fraudsters posing as trusted individuals who convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms.

And if you think that it is safer just buying a gift card at a trusted store …. well maybe not. 

Thieves will take un-activated gift cards from stores then send them to colleagues know as “tamperers” who manipulate the packaging to gain access to the gift card’s sensitive information. They then re-package the cards in a way that makes them appear as if they were not tampered with. Individuals then redistribute the cards back into the stores. Then the criminals use technology that alerts them when a consumer buys and loads funds onto the card. Once the card is funded and activated by the unwitting consumer the criminals quickly transfer the funds into accounts they control, according to the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS). 

The customer often does not realize this has happened until they give the card to someone. 

It is advised to check the gift card in advance of purchasing it for any signs of it being tampering with, including stickers placed over barcodes. 

“Before buying a gift card at the store, run your finger over the back to check whether a sticker has been applied on top of the barcode. Scammers can tamper with in-store gift cards by adding barcode stickers over the top of the card’s real bar code. These fraudulent bar codes are connected to a different gift card account that the scammer controls. That means when you scan a phony barcode at the check-out and pay, you’ll add cash to a scammer’s account rather than onto your newly purchased gift card,” according to the DHS.
Criminals are also using AI (artificial intelligence) in a number of ways including a voice cloning recognition program that mimics a loved one’s voice. The fake loved one will call the victim stating funds are needed. They’ll cite a variety of reasons, including being arrested.

And of course there are the porch bandits, also known as package thieves, who have been working neighborhoods as long as packages have been delivered to residences. 

It is advised that shoppers have a tracking number and application on their phones or computers so they’ll know when a package has been delivered to their home. Many stores/services offer delivery options; for example, Amazon offers Amazon lockers as an alternative to having a package delivered to a home. The lockers are usually located in local stores and are accessed by a code sent to the shopper by Amazon. 

Consumers can also require a signature upon delivery of item/s; however, that can also be tricky. A recent news report showed a man (victim) standing on his front porch awaiting the delivery of his computer. Another man, in a white T-shirt, was standing in front of the victim’s home. When the UPS truck pulled up, the white T-shirt man showed the driver a fake identification and was handed the package … all while the victim watched. The UPS worker then saw the victim standing on the porch and asked if he was expecting a delivery. The victim said yes, and that is when the theft was discovered. In the meantime the criminal drove off with the computer. 

By using technology criminals are becoming more sophisticated in stealing people’s identities and their items. It is important for consumers to be aware of their surroundings and be aware of scams. 

There are several websites that help consumers learn about scams including: The Federal Trade Commission:  https://tinyurl.com/yc4keat5 and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: https://tinyurl.com/3yjxy7d5.