Don’t let scammers steal your holiday spirit: Tips for a fraud-free season

The holiday season formally kicks off today, and Santa Claus isn’t the only one buried in work.

“This is my busiest time of the year,” Steve J. Bernas, president and chief executive officer of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois, told us this week.

That’s because holiday shoppers are popular marks for scammers and other crooks, whether it be online, at the mall, or even on their targets’ front porches.

Bernas’ top piece of advice? Take your time and research before you buy.

“In today’s fast-paced society, consumers don’t always do their due diligence,” Bernas said. “Unfortunately, people don’t do their homework until after they’ve been scammed.”

According to a BBB report, instances of online retail fraud steal nearly $400 million annually from shoppers.

“Online shopping scams are still first on our list (of scams),” Bernas said. “The only way to put these scammers out of business is to not give them your business.”

With that in mind, here are some tips and tricks from the BBB, law enforcement and others on how to keep grinches from stealing your holiday spirit.

Black Friday

Online shopping has put a massive dent in the Black Friday rush — and become the focal point for most scammers — but traditionalists still face potential pitfalls.

• Don't overdo it with packages. Keeping your hands full with purchases makes you more vulnerable to a snatch-and-grab robbery. Instead, take your purchases out to your vehicle — always locked in the trunk or hidden from view — before loading up on more deals.

• Make a note of where you parked, especially if you’re at a large shopping center. That will keep you from wandering the lot with packages.

• Have your keys ready when leaving the store, and check inside your vehicle before getting in.

• Avoid parking next to large vehicles that block others from seeing you.

• Read the fine print on “door-buster” deals and other specials to be aware of their limitations. “The big print giveth and the small print taketh away,” Bernas said.

Cyber Monday

• Be on the lookout for fake websites that appear like the real thing and even have a nearly identical website address. Scammers may use ads and sponsored links to trick you into visiting bogus websites.

“The scammers are so good at this now, they create world-class sites that look exactly like the real thing,” Bernas said.

• Be careful when clicking on links that were sent to your phone or email from suspicious or unfamiliar sources. And never download a company’s software just to make a purchase — that may be a trick to get you to install a virus or ransomware.

• Always pay with a credit card, which can limit your liability for fraudulent charges. Paying by debit card, prepaid cards, gift cards and cash do not offer the same safeguards. Services such as Apple or Google Pay, which allow you to pay without providing your credit card number, are good options as well.

• Research reviews before buying online, especially from an unfamiliar seller, and make sure the seller has a legitimate physical address and U.S.-based phone number.

• Thoroughly read a seller’s return and exchange policies before buying.

• Look for “https://” and a padlock symbol in the website URL that appears in your browser's address bar. This means that the website uses secure technology.

• As the old saying goes, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Prevent porch piracy

Just because you’ve bought from a legitimate online seller doesn’t mean you're out of the woods. So-called porch pirates are cruising neighborhoods in search of unattended packages there for the taking.

• Have packages sent to an Amazon Locker or UPS store instead of home. Or get a delivery lockbox for your porch.

• If you know you’ll be away from home for an extended period, have purchases delivered to a neighbor you know will be around.

• Take advantage of package tracking to quickly retrieve deliveries, or request a signature for delivery.

• Consider picking up online purchases at the store.

GivingTuesday

Tis the season of giving, but you’ll want to be sure your charitable donations are actually helping those in need.

• Check a charity's record and reputation on websites such as Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, Guidestar and the Better Business Bureau.

• Don't make donations with a gift card or wire transfer, and don’t be pressured into giving a credit card number.

• If someone seeking a donation tries to hurry you or is unwilling to provide information and answer questions, that's a red flag.

• Watch out for “soundalike” organizations that have names similar to reputable charities.

· Do you have a tip or a comment? Email us at copsandcrime@dailyherald.com.