Holiday Scams To Watch Out For This Year
Every holiday season, scammers come out of the woodwork by the hundreds, armed with schemes to separate the unwary from their hard earned money. These scammers know that in the rush of the holiday season, people are hurried and may not protect their personal information as well as they should. Here are some of the most common scams found during the holidays.
Charity Scams
Scammers know that many people full of holiday cheer are more likely to give to charitable organizations in the hopes of spreading that cheer to the less fortunate among us. These scammers send letters and emails to large numbers of people asking for donations for the holiday season when in reality they are just interested in lining their pockets and stealing your credit card information. Be wary of any charitable organization soliciting donations that you have not heard of or cannot find a reasonable amount of information about on the internet.
Contact Scams
With this scam, the scammers send an email or social networking notification that an old friend or distant relative is interested in reconnecting with you. Once the link in the email or on the social networking account is clicked, the person’s computer can be infected with any of a number of malware applications, including keystroke loggers to steal your passwords and credit card information. At this time of year, it is better to be safe than sorry and be very cautious about clicking on links from people that you do not know or do not remember.
Luxury Goods Scams
During the holiday season, many websites spring up offering great deals on luxury merchandise, specifically clothing, jewelry, perfumes, and handbags. Scammers use these websites to steal credit card numbers, to accept payment for merchandise that will never be delivered, or to sell inferior knockoffs that are worth much less than the website is selling them for. A good rule of thumb to follow is if a deal seems too good to be true, it is more than likely that the deal is a ruse for a fraudulent activity.
Festive Item Scams
Another scam that is making the rounds this holiday season is the festive item scam. With this scam, the scammers set up websites offering holiday ringtones, festive screensavers, or downloadable holiday songs and lyrics. When a consumer clicks on or attempts to purchase one of these festive items, their computer can be affected with malware and viruses that lock up the computer and steal the person’s information.
Related Content: -
The Real Cost of Credit Cards I get bashed often about my attitude towards credit cards. Responsible users (those who never carry a balance) are very proud of the rewards and benefits they provide. Other personal finance bloggers devote substantial time writing about the various rewards cards available to us, hoping to garner some extra income...... - Three Ways to Find Some Extra Cash for the Holidays Yeah the holidays are almost here! Many people are excited at the prospect of enjoying another holiday season. Other folks, though, are panic-stricken. If you haven’t been saving some extra cash to pay for your holiday celebrations, the holiday season may be terrifying for you. How will you get through......
-
5 Credit Cards That Will Save You Money On Holiday Purchases This article comes from DR at The Dough Roller, a blog about money management. With the holiday buying frenzy in full progress, there is no better time than the present for some money saving strategies. One of them is simple, easy, and free--using the right credit card to make holiday...... - Credit cards don’t cause debt, people do I have used credit cards my whole life. I have never carried a balance except by accident (when I did not receive a statement and forgot to ask why, for example). I think education at an early age is key to avoiding the mentality of thinking of credit as free......
-
making money with a credit card Credit cards are evil. Credit card companies are predatory, aggressive entities who seek only to make money. Poor consumers are victimized by high interest rates and ridiculous penalties. Credit card companies are worse than baby kitten stompers, and we all know how evil THEY are. Except, of course, they......
Easily, the post is in reality the freshest on this worthy topic. I harmonise with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your next updates. Saying thanks will not just be sufficient, for the exceptional clarity in your writing. I will directly grab your rss feed to stay privy of any updates. De lightful work and much success in your business enterprize!