A holiday fraud warning says fake stores and bait messages are spreading during sales, and a quick check before you click can protect your money and card details.
A new holiday fraud warning is telling shoppers to slow down for a few seconds before they click or pay. The reason is simple. Fake stores, look-alike web addresses and urgent messages about packages or accounts are common tricks during holiday sales, and they work best when people are rushing to catch a deal.
Scammers copy the look of real shopping. A fake store may sell the item you want at a price that seems amazing. A web address may look right at first glance but have odd spelling or extra words. Texts and emails about a late package or a locked account are often bait meant to get you to tap a link and hand over details.
Anyone shopping online or by phone this season can be a target. That includes people who buy from social media ads, email offers and links sent by text. If you only shop by typing in stores you already know, your risk is lower, but the message tricks can still reach you.
A bad click can cost you money and expose your card details. It can also leave you with a long cleanup afterward. How you pay matters too. A credit card gives you stronger dispute rights than a debit card or a gift card.
The alert box above lists the exact steps. In short, go to stores yourself, read the web address closely, pay in a safer way and check packages on the retailer's own site or app.
The warning does not name a specific scam group, store or message, and it gives no figures on how many shoppers have been hit. Expect the same tricks to keep showing up as the sales season goes on.
Before you click a holiday deal, type the store's address yourself and pay with a credit card, not a debit card or gift card.
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