Ho Ho Hoaxes
11/29/2021
For most of us, the holidays are full of cheer and goodwill. Unfortunately, bad actors use the holidays to scam unsuspecting people out of their hard-earned money. We've compiled a list of some of the more common scams to be on the lookout for so you can avoid becoming a victim.
Peer-To-Peer (P2P) Payment Service Scams
Cybercriminals are using payment platforms like Zelle, Cashapp and Venmo to steal victim's funds. These scams often begin with a spoofed text message warning about a suspicious transfer. Anyone who responds will very soon after receive a phone call from a scammer pretending to be from the financial institution's fraud department. Remember the mantra: hang up, look up, and call back. If you receive a call from someone warning about fraud, hang up. If you believe the call might be legitimate, look up the number of the organization supposedly calling you. Then, call that number back to verify the original call came from them, and not a scammer.
Travel Scams
When staying in a hotel, beware of scammers who use various techniques to obtain credit card information, including fake front desk calls, "free" wi-fi connections and fake food delivery.
Bogus Shipping Notices From UPS and FedEx
You are going to see emails supposedly from UPS and FedEx in your inbox that claim your package has a problem and/or could not be delivered. Many of these are phishing attacks that try to make you click on a link or open an attachment.
Holiday Refund Scams
These emails seem to come from retail chains or e-commerce companies claiming there's a "wrong transaction" and prompt you to click the refund link. However, when you do that, the personal information you give out will be sold to cyber criminals.
Complimentary Vouchers or Gift Cards
A popular holiday scam is big discounts on gift cards. Don't fall for offers from retailers or social media posts that offer phony vouchers or gift cards paired with special promotions or contests.
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