Its easy to get caught up in the craziness of the holidays.
Dont let the stress cloud your better judgment.
Watch out for these scams that prey on holiday shoppers.
Fake Store Apps
TheFBI recently sent a press releasewarning consumers aboutfake app scams.
Once you download these apps, they steal personal info from your rig.
The apps can also infect your phone with malware.
Its easy to just search for an app and download the first one that looks right.
Check customer reviews, too.
Fake Online Stores
The FBI also warns about fake deals from unfamiliar sites.
The regular-priced items make them look like a real store and help them show up in Google search results.
Thus, just because a store shows up in Google search results doesnt automatically mean its legit.
Sometimes these scammers will even create fake social media handles and ads to promote their deals.
These posts might include coupons, holiday promotions, contests, or free gift cards.
It might also include a bunch of random numbers or lettersa typical throwaway address.
The brand selection is completely random.
Phony sites target people with popular brands; theres usually no curating involved.
In general, if you come across a deal thats too good to be true, it probably is.
If you spot a truly awesome deal, chances are, deal sites have already found it.
Check sites likeKinja Deals,Slickdeals, orDealNewsto verify the discount.
you’ve got the option to also use resources likeConsumeristor theBetter Business Bureauto research potential scam sites.
Additionally,WhoIS.netallows you to look up information on the company or individual that registered the domain.
Social Media Scams
Social media channels like Facebook are a perfect platform for scammers.
TheSecret Sister scam, for example, has made its rounds on Facebook recently.
You invite friends, they send gifts, and you get more gifts.
It seemed like this original thing.
The scammer takes your money or credit card/bank account information, and you never hear from them again.
Once you hit it, it steals your login credentials or installs malware on your machine.
You should also avoid clicking on any unknown links someone DMs or tags you in.
These emails look like they come from legitimate companies, like Amazon or UPS.
Some of them may claim theres a problem with your order.
Others may offer a deal or discount.
People still fall for them, though, and get stuck in anendless debt trap.
Interest rates are high, too.
Astudy from MagnifyMoneyfound that the average rate is 24.8 percent.
If youre interested in the discounts those cards offer, consider opening arewards card instead.
Of course, you always want to read the fine print yourself.
In general, maintain a skeptical eye.
Think twice before giving out any personal information, especially over social media or email.
You should also check your bank statements andcredit reports periodicallyto look out for any fraudulent purchases or accounts.
Beyond that, ensure toupdate your antivirus and anti-malware apps.
This way, youre protected even if you accidentally click something suspicious.
Illustration by: Sam Woolley
