Secret Sister Exchange: A social media scam that claims if you buy a $10
gift and send it to a ―secret sister,‖ you will receive anywhere from six to 36
in return. This is a variation on ―pyramid schemes‖ and it‘s illegal.
RELATED: Use caution when shopping internationally
RELATED: Beware of fake apps when making Christmas
purchases
Help Scams: Calls to unsuspecting relatives or friends from imposters
who claim to be a grandchild, niece, nephew or friend, who is traveling, and
they need emergency financial help to cover medical or legal expenses.
Seasonal Travel Scams: Whether it‘s a promise of a free or discounted
trip, phony rental listings, or con men telling timeshare sellers they‘ve got a
buyer lined up, scammers are working to rip you off. Check out any offers of
great travel deals.
Point of sale Malware: is malicious software expressly written to steal
customer payment data — especially credit card data — from retail
checkout systems. Check your credit card statements to make sure you
don‘t have unwanted charges as a result of a point-of-sale breach of your
credit security.
Phony charities: ‗Tis the season to donate, but be wary of fake charities.
Do your research and double check the site URL. Check out charities at
http://ask.bbb.org/.
Fake coupons: Avoid the unwanted gift of malware and always verify that
e-cards or coupons are from someone you know and are from a trustworthy
site.
Fake shipping notifications: Think twice before clicking links in
shipping notification emails. Always verify the shipping company before
giving out your personal information.
ATM Skimmers: The typical ATM skimmer is a device smaller than a
deck of cards that fits over the existing card reader. It is essentially a