Avoiding Holiday Shopping Scams

Fraud Tactics & Risks - Increased online shopping during heavy shopping seasons like Black Friday makes consumers more vulnerable to fraud and scams [1] - Scammers use AI to reverse engineer legitimate websites, create imposter social media accounts, and generate fake reviews, making scams more convincing [4][5] - Scammers exploit the desire for deals and bargains, especially during times of economic pressure [2] - Red flags include prices that are too good to be true (e.g., 70-90% off) [11] Prevention & Protection - Use website reputation checkers like Scam Advisor, URL Void, and Trustpilot to verify the legitimacy of websites [7] - Check the Better Business Bureau for information on domain names [8] - Use credit cards for online purchases due to their fraud protection [8] - Be wary of merchants who only accept payment methods like Venmo, Zelle, gift cards, or wire transfers [9][10] - Use VirusTotal dot com to evaluate URLs for potential scams [12] Response to Scams - Immediately contact the bank or payment provider to lock down accounts [13][14] - Report the incident to the FBI at IC3 dot gov and the FTC at FTC dot gov [14] - Utilize resources like the Identity Theft Resource Center for assistance and guidance [14]