Tis the Season for Holiday Scams

While we shop, cook, and hang holiday lights, scammers are busy looking for their next targets.

Georgians lost a$156.5 million in scams and fraud in 2023, an increase of 25.4% since 2022 for Georgia, according to a study by LendingTree.

Below is a naughty list, from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), of scams to be on the lookout for during this holiday season. Keep your holidays safe and jolly by not falling for these frauds!

1. Misleading Social Media Ads: As you scroll through your social media feed, you often see products advertised. Always research before you buy. Online purchase scams are some of the most commonly reported scams to the BBB's Scam Tracker. 

2. Social Media Gift Exchange: Every holiday season, a different version of this scam is revived.  No matter the variation, individuals disclose their personal information, including the private details of their friends and family, and are deceived into sending gifts or money without receiving anything in return. This is also an illegal pyramid scheme

3. Holiday Apps: During the holidays, many seasonal apps are listed on Google Play and Apple's App Store. Double-check the privacy policies to verify the information being collected and read the reviews. Free apps can also contain malware. 

4. Fake Toll Collection Texts: If you plan to travel during this holiday season, watch out for these fake text messages. In this scam, a person receives a “smishing” text pretending to be a representative of a road toll collection service. The fake text claims that the receiver owes money for unpaid tolls. It may also include a link to pay the balance or ask for private information like your social security number.

5. "Free" Gift Cards: Scammers take advantage of this weakness by sending bulk phishing emails requesting personal information to receive "free” gift cards. In some of these emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies and promise gift cards to reward their loyal customers. They may also use pop-up ads or send text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner of a prize. 

6. Temporary Holiday Jobs: Many companies need additional help during the holidays. Avoid job postings that ask you to share personal information or pay for job leads.

7. Imposter Scams: These frauds take many forms but especially when shopping online, be on the lookout for fake, look-alike websites. They are created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, making a pointless purchase, or revealing private information.

8. Phony Charities: Scammers like to take advantage of the holiday spirit by sending fake charity solicitations to your email, phone and posting on social media sites. You can verify charities at give.org or givingmatters.civicore.com.

9. Fake Shipping Notifications: This scam is used with different techniques. You may receive an email or text with attachments or links that could download malware to your device to steal your personal information. You could also receive a nondescript postcard where you are instructed to call the number on the card which could lead to you revealing private information and/or when the house is vacant. Don't fall for it!

10. Advent Calendars: Each year, more and more advent calendars are sold and many are in demand. BBB Scam Tracker received reports about advent calendar ads on social media not delivering as promised. Some were not received; others received inferior products or incomplete orders.  Consumers should research before they buy, read reviews and look up the company on BBB.org before purchasing.

11. Holiday Wish Lists: Use caution when purchasing popular toys, low-price electronics or luxury items from resellers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

12. Puppy Shopping: During the holidays a lot of people look for the perfect gift which could be a pet. Be skeptical of online pet sales. You might receive a pet from a "puppy mill" which could increase the likelihood of poor health, or you may receive nothing at all.

Sources: Better Business Bureau, fbi.gov