7 Scams You Need to be Aware of During the Holidays

Today let me share with you the 7 scams you need to be aware of during the holidays to keep yourself and your money safe.

The holidays bring joy and a sense of well-being for most people. With the many parties, activities, family get-togethers, and holiday shopping, you may find that you are very busy and may not pay attention to potential scams and rip-offs.

Here are the 7 scams that you need to avoid during the holidays:

1. Pickpocket Scam - While shopping for the many gifts you intend to give this year, pay careful attention to the presence of pickpockets. Keep your money in a front pocket rather than in your back pocket. If you carry a purse, make sure you hold it close to your body rather than holding it by the strap and letting it swing as you walk. Crafty pickpockets who often work as a team steal millions of dollars each year. One will distract the victim while the other slips in and takes the victim’s money. Protect yourself and your wallet at all times. Do not be fooled into thinking that since you are shopping at an upscale, safe location that you will not become the victim of a pickpocket.

2. Online Shopping Scams - Beware of online scams. During the holidays there are many websites that offer incredible deals on various merchandise, travel specials, and several other seemingly ‘perfect’ opportunities. Be very careful about what you purchase online and from whom you make purchases. If you are careless in your online shopping habits, you may find that your merchandise never arrives as promised, the deal you thought you were purchasing is non-existent, or that not only does your order arrive after the holidays are over, but when it arrives the merchandise only vaguely resembles that pictured on the website, if there is any similarity at all.

3. Credit Card Scam - Beware of credit card companies that increase your spending limit immediately before the holiday shopping season begins. Each purchase you make will accrue interest, increasing the overall amounts you will spend the items you buy. Also, do not make the mistake of accepting offers from your credit card company to skip your payment until after the New Year. The interest you owe will still accrue and you will end up owing more than you did initially.

4. Telemarketing Scams - Telemarketing scams seem to increase during the holidays. Never give your personal information or credit card number to an unsolicited caller. Millions are stolen each year during the holidays because of telemarketing scams that entice consumers to make purchases immediately. If a telemarketer tells you that the incredible offer they are giving you will only be available for the next 10 minutes, hang up immediately.

5. Charity Scams - Beware of mail and calls from charities you have never heard of. Many people have fallen victim to a charity scam that solicits money from unsuspecting consumers. The charity promises that your tax-deductible gift will go to help the underprivileged, starving children, victims of natural disasters, etc. Most charities are reputable, but stay away from any charity solicitation that is from an organization you have never seen before.

6. Phishing Scam - Scam artists have become masters at kicking out email messages that look extremely authentic. If you get an email message and want to visit a website, do not click the link in the email message. Instead, type the site domain name directly into a browser or find it through a search engine. Doing so will get you to the real site, not a fake.

7. Wrapping Paper Station Scam - Also, beware of wrapping paper station scams. Wrapping paper stations can seem like a great idea, but in reality you can purchase and wrap everything you need for significantly less money. However, if you decide to use a wrapping paper station, make sure you’re present at all times while your gift is being wrapped. Do not leave your gifts at the station and come back later to pick them up. The time you may save is not worth the extra expense, and you may find out later that the gifts you bought were not the gifts you paid to have wrapped.

Thank you for reading the 7 scams you need to be aware of during the holidays to keep yourself and your money safe. If you liked this, share it to your family and friends. If you had not already, you can also follow me here on News Break. Until next time. Take care of yourself and each other. Stay safe. Cheers!

Photo credit: Ari Spada / unsplash.com