The Top Holiday Scams to look for in 2022
Holidays are a time for shopping and gift giving. With all the shopping online and with social media, holiday scams are at an all-time high. Don’t be a victim of scams this holiday season. I have updated a blog post on this topic from 2021. There are always new scams as well as prior ones to be concerned about!
According to Forbes, these are some of the top holiday scams to look for in 2022. Scammers are creating new ways all the time to rip-off the public!
- Gift Car Scam – Scammers take gift cards off the display at retail stores, scratch off the PIN code, write down the card number and PIN code and apply a new coating over the PIN code on the card. Once the card is purchased and activated, the scammer uses the card for personal use and the purchaser is left with a card with no available balance left to use.
- Mail Theft – This has been a big problem lately especially in the Dayton area. Holiday envelopes are usually easy to distinguish, and scammer will steal from mailboxes, look for holiday envelopes and open them, hoping to find cash or holiday gift cards that were sent as gifts. Don’t ever send cash and send e-gift cards instead.
- Counterfeit Goods Scams – Scammers will set up counterfeit websites that look like the real thing and offer tremendous sales. You may even receive the product ordered but it will be a counterfeit version of the genuine item.
- Package Thefts – We’ve all heard the phrase “porch pirate”. It has become an increasing problem especially with all the Amazon deliveries. Monitor when a package is supposed to arrive and make sure that you are there or arrange for a neighbor to pick it up.
- Vacation Rental Scams – People are renting homes more than ever as vacation rentals. Scammers offer vacation rentals that don’t actually exist or that they own. Always use a trusted website if you choose to go this route.
- Charitable Gift Scam – At the holidays, people are more likely to make charitable gifts. Scammers will send emails or make phone calls pretending to be legitimate charities. Always use an organization’s website to make charitable gifts. (Also, see number 8 below from 2021).
- Grandchild in Jail Scam – Scammers continue to use this scam to prey on the elderly. They pretend to be a grandchild on vacation that is in jail and needs bail money. Don’t fall for it. Call the grandchild’s parent to find out what is going on.
As mentioned above, I posted a similar blog article here last December. Here are The Better Business Bureau (BBB) top 12 holiday scams from 2021 to look out for. A great list! It is a good refresher to review. Here they are:
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Misleading Social Media Ads
As you scroll through your social media feed, you often see items for sale from a small business. Sometimes the business even claims to support a charity to try to get you to order, or they offer a free trial. BBB Scam Tracker receives reports of people paying for items that they never receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the one advertised. The 2020 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report found that online purchase scams were the most common cons reported to Scam Tracker and the category with the most victims. Do your homework and research the company before ordering. Check out the business profile on BBB.org and read the reviews.
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Social Media Gift Exchanges
Each holiday season this scheme pops back up, and this year is no different. A newer version of this scam revolves around exchanging bottles of wine; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. Another twist asks you to submit your email into a list where participants get to pick a name and send money to strangers to “pay it forward.” There is even a twist about “Secret Santa Dog” where you buy a $10 gift for your “secret dog.”
In all of these versions, participants unwittingly share their personal information, along with those of their family members and friends, and are further tricked into buying and shipping gifts or money to unknown individuals. And – it’s an illegal pyramid scheme.
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Holiday Apps
Apple’s App Store and Google Play list dozens of holiday-themed apps where children can video chat live with Santa, light the menorah, watch Santa feed live reindeer, track his sleigh on Christmas Eve, or relay their holiday wish lists. This holiday season, like last year when COVID-19 caused children to skip the traditional in-person visit with Santa, apps may play a more important role than ever. Review privacy policies to see what information will be collected. Be wary of free apps, as they can sometimes contain more advertising than apps that require a nominal fee. Free apps can also contain malware.
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Alerts About Compromised Accounts
BBB has been receiving reports on Scam Tracker about a con claiming your Amazon, Paypal, Netflix or bank account has been compromised. Victims receive an email, call, or text message which explains that there has been suspicious activity on one of their accounts, and it further urges them to take immediate action to prevent the account from being compromised. Be extra cautious about unsolicited calls, emails, and texts.
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Free Gift Cards
Nothing brings good cheer like the word ‘FREE’. Scammers have been known to take advantage of this weakness by sending bulk phishing emails requesting personal information to receive free gift cards. In some of these emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies like Starbucks and promise gift cards to loyal customers that have been supporting their business throughout the pandemic. They may also use pop-up ads or send text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner for a prize.
If you have received an unsolicited email with gift card offers, do not open it. Instead, mark it as Spam or Junk. However, if you opened the email, do not click on any links. -
Temporary Holiday Jobs
Retailers typically hire seasonal workers to help meet the demands of holiday shoppers. Shippers and delivery services are top holiday employers this year because of the increase in online orders and the need to get most of these packages delivered before Christmas. These jobs are a great way to make extra money, sometimes with the possibility of turning into a long-term employment opportunity. However, jobseekers need to be wary of employment scams aimed at stealing money and personal information from job applicants. Keep an eye out for opportunities that seem too good to be true.
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Look-Alike Websites
The holiday season brings endless emails offering deals, sales and bargains. Be wary of emails with links enclosed. Some may lead to look-alike websites created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, making dead-end purchases and sharing private information. If you are uncertain about the email, do not click any of the links. Instead, hover over them to see where they reroute.
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Fake Charities
Typically, 40% of all charitable donations are received during the last few weeks of the year. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations had to cancel their usual fundraising events and awareness campaigns and are now inviting donors to support online. Donors are advised to lookout for fraudulent charities and scammers pretending to be individuals in need. Avoid impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. Responsible organizations will welcome a gift tomorrow as much as they do today. Verify a charity at BBB’s give.org or on the Canada Revenue Agency website. Where possible, donate to the charity through their website and use a credit card.
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Fake Shipping Notifications
More consumers are making purchases online, there is also an increase in the number of notifications about shipping details from retailers and carriers. Scammers are using this new surge to send phishing emails with links enclosed that may allow unwanted access to your private information or download malware onto your device. They may also try to trick people into paying new shipping fees.
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Pop Up Holiday Virtual Events
This year, many local in-person events such as pop-up holiday markets or craft fairs, have moved online. Scammers are creating fake event pages, social media posts, and emails, charging admission for what used to be a free event. The goal is to steal credit card information. Confirm with the organizer of the event if there is an admission fee. In the cases where there is a charge, use a credit card. If the event is free, watch for scammers trying to claim otherwise.
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Top Holiday Wishlist Items
Low or ridiculously priced luxury goods, jewelry, designer clothing, and electronics are almost always cheap counterfeits and knockoffs. This year, the Galactic Snackin’ Grogu Animatronic (aka Baby Yoda) and game consoles are some of the items in high demand. Be very cautious when considering purchasing these high-value items from individuals through social sites.
- Puppy Scams
Many families, especially those with children, may be considering adding a furry friend to their household this year. However, you could fall victim to a pet scam, which are on the rise this year. Request to see the pet in person before making a purchase.
How to Avoid Being a Victim of Holiday Scams this Season?
Be smart, careful and don’t get scammed! If you have any questions or need more information about holiday scams, you should contact your local Better Business Bureau. We can’t be too vigilant especially during the holidays! Avoiding these mistakes will make your holiday much more merry.
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Joseph Balmer manages the Probate, Trust and Estate Administration department at Dayton, Ohio, law firm, Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues, and has been certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law since 2006.
