It’s the most wonderful time of the year for scams Ways To Money

Nov 26

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for scams

Most people face some degree of financial pressure as Christmas nears. While upstanding citizens may resort to tapping savings or taking on some credit card debt, criminals are on the prowl to steal your money to fill their Christmas stockings.

This year online criminals are expected to have their biggest year ever – talk about a “growth” industry!

Tips from the FBI Here are some tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of cyber fraud:

Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.
Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. Virus-scan the attachments, if possible.
Avoid filling out forms contained in e-mail messages that ask for personal information. Always compare the link in the e-mail to the link you are actually directed to and determine if they actually match and will lead you to a legitimate site.
Log on directly to the official Web site for the business identified in the e-mail, instead of “linking” to it from an unsolicited e-mail. If the e-mail appears to be from your bank, credit card issuer, or other company you deal with frequently, your statements or official correspondence from the business will provide the proper contact information.
Contact the actual business that supposedly sent the e-mail to verify if the e-mail is genuine.

The Scams That Appear To Be Most Prevalent:

Do not log in to bank or credit card accounts while using public Wi-Fi

It’s surprising to see how easy it appears to be for people to be able to steal log in information by hacking into computers using public Wi-Fi. In fact, there’s a new program called Firesheep that allows people to easily hack into computers using Firefox as the browser on a public Wi-Fi system. Hacking by this route is apparently epidemic, as we all continue to see countless articles about people being hacked while using public Wi-Fi at coffee shops, airports, and public libraries.

Keep a close eye on your credit and debit card transactions

Many people will be using their credit card more than usual during the holiday season. This increased activity will put you at greater risk of someone using your card without your permission. Make it a habit to check your balance every single day to be sure there are no suspicious charges in your account.

Theft…the old fashioned way

While it is good to be aware of the new means by which people are stealing money, we must still keep offline theft on our radar as well. This time of the year is a favorite for thieves to steal mail right out of your mailbox. If you are sending out gift cards or checks to a family member, drop those letters in a secure mailbox; it is too easy for someone driving by a standard residential mailbox to see the flag up and in ten seconds get their hands on that mail.

Another common sense issue is leaving gifts in your car while shopping. If you drive a car that does not have a trunk, bring a dark colored blanket along to cover items so they are not obvious to someone walking through a parking lot peering into car windows.

Facebook grandparent scam

Of all the scams, this one was the hardest to believe that it really worked. The scammer calls an elderly individual and convinces them that they are their grandchild and in a desperate need for money. The stories vary, but most involved a financial emergency such as being stranded at an airport, a car problem, etc… After being convinced that this was really their grandchild, the elderly individual is instructed to send several thousand dollars through Western Union to help ‘rescue’ them. As hard as it may be for some of you to believe this can work as well as it does, think about the “perfect storm” of a scam that can be created when you combine an elderly, more emotionally-vulnerable person…who may not have regular contact with adult grandchildren…with a smart, motivated scammer who is very convincing.

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