8 SCAMS TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

The holiday season is nearly upon us, but at this time of the year, many people find themselves as the victims of scams or identity theft.

“There is so many things blasted to us in emails and on social media and even calls, so sometimes it’s hard to know what’s legit,” says Tress Team leader Peter Klein.

“Sometimes a deal that looks too good to be true isn’t true.”

Here are eight of the top scams to look out for as we enter into the holidays this year.

By avoiding these scams, you’ll protect your debt ratio and credit ratio, which can both take up to a year to restore.

1. Gift Cards

Gift cards are a great option for your family and friends this holiday season. However, you’ll find there are many scams when it comes to both physical and digital gift cards. Make sure you always purchase gift cards directly from the company they are for. Also, don’t be tempted by emails asking you to purchase gift cards for someone, as these are some of the most common scams during the holidays.

2. Donating to Fake Charities

The number of fake charities which appear at this time of year is unbelievable. We are fully in support of donating to charities during the holidays, but make sure you know exactly where your donation is going. Be very wary of phone calls and emails asking for donations, and check out the website properly to ensure it is authentic before giving anyone your credit card number.

3. Online Gift Exchanges

For those of us with smaller families or fewer friends, it can be fun to take part in online gift exchanges. The issue with many of these is that they ask you to donate more items than you’ll ever receive back. Be very careful about giving your personal information to anyone you don’t know online, as you never know what someone will do with this data.

4. Package Delivery Texts and Emails

Online shopping is something that most of us rely on throughout the year. Around the holidays, there are more scams regarding deliveries. If you receive a strange text or email asking for your payment information to secure a delivery, follow this up directly with the delivery company before agreeing to anything.

5. Holiday Jobs

The holidays are a great time to boost your savings and take on a temporary second job. When it comes to applying for holiday jobs, make sure you don’t get trapped in a scam. Ensure you aren’t working for free for anyone and request a contract to start and end your employment.

6. Package Theft

As well as the scams we shared above in regards to packages, you’ll find that theft is up around the holidays. If you are going to be out for the day, find a safe place to store packages so no one can see them.

7. Cybercriminals

When using wi-fi connections outside of your house, be very wary at this time of the year about shopping online. Cybercriminals are out in full force during the holidays, and you are much more likely to be the victim of an attack.

8. Fake Apps

We all use apps on a daily basis, but the number of fake apps out there now is alarming. Make sure you only download apps that have reviews and a full description and only use apps that are on trusted app stores.