AARP says fake shops, fake delivery notices and tampered gift cards are the main holiday scams. A few simple habits can keep your money and details safe.
AARP is warning that the holiday season is a prime time for scams. Three are worth knowing: fake online shops, fake delivery notices and gift cards that thieves have tampered with. All three get more chances to work when people are buying gifts and waiting on packages.
Fake shops are built to look convincing. Their websites and ads offer popular items at unusually low prices. The low price is the bait.
Fake delivery notices pose as UPS, FedEx or the U.S. Postal Service. Clicking the link can lead to a website that steals personal information or installs malware, which is harmful software, on your device.
Gift card scams work differently. Criminals may steal card information from store racks, then drain the balance after someone buys the card. The buyer pays, and the thief takes the money.
Anyone shopping online, expecting a package or buying gift cards could be a target. People who go straight to a retailer's own website or app, and who check deliveries through the shipper's own site or app, avoid the trick these scams lean on: a link you did not ask for. The alert box above lists the steps.
AARP also runs a free helpline at 877-908-3360, staffed by fraud specialists, for anyone who suspects a scam. The warning is general. It does not say how many people have been hit this season or name any specific fake sites or messages.
Do not click links in ads, emails or texts. Go to the store or the shipper yourself, and call 877-908-3360 if you think you have been scammed.
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