Carlsbad Village Faire shopping center. (FILE photo/Carlsbad Village Association)
The FBI San Diego Field Office this weekend warned consumers to be aware of the many types of scams criminals use during the holiday shopping season.
When shopping online, be diligent and make sure to do your research. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is, according to the FBI.
The FBI says the same warnings apply to fake charity organizations seeking donations and potential donors should proceed with caution and verify their site before donating.
“The FBI receives thousands of reports every year of people being scammed during the holidays,” Mark Dargis, special agent in charge of the San Diego Field Office said. “Do not let scammers rob you of this joyous holiday season. Stop scammers before they strike–stay vigilant while shopping or donating during the holidays.”
Some of the scams the FBI is seeing include:
-Non-delivery scams, where you pay for goods or services you find online, but you never receive your items.
-Non-payment scams, where you ship purchased goods or services, but you never receive payment for them.
-Gift card fraud, where a seller asks you to pay with a pre-paid card.
-Fake charities, where copycat organizations solicit donations through phone calls, emails, crowd funding platforms, and social media to steal funds.
-Auction fraud, where a product you purchase was misrepresented on an auction site.
The FBI offered a list of tips to avoid scams, including:
-Don’t click any suspicious links or attachments in emails, on websites, or on social media.
-Be wary if a company asks you to update your password or account information.
-Check each website’s URL to make sure it’s legitimate and secure. Web addresses should begin with “https://” and include a locked padlock icon.
-Inspect gift cards before purchasing. Check for signs of tampering.
-Donate wisely by verifying charities through trusted sources. Avoid those soliciting donations via gift cards or wire transfers.
-Be wary of any online transactions that use wire transfers, virtual currency, gift cards, or cash as payment options.
-Don’t pay for items with pre-paid gift cards. Never wire money directly to a seller.
-Always get tracking numbers for items you buy online.
FBI San Diego is committed to keeping communities safe and encouraged consumers and donors to take the time to carefully review online purchases and charitable donations.
Victims of holiday scams or charity fraud were urged to submit a complaint to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov as soon as possible, report it to local law enforcement, and contact your credit card company or your bank immediately to stop, reverse or dispute any suspicious charges.
For more information about holiday scams, visit fbi.gov/holidayscams.
To learn more about common frauds and scams, visit fbi.gov/scams.
— City News Service
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