In these times of giving, it is easy to forget that these are also times of taking.
There are many scams during the holidays. Some of these are obvious, others not so much. For example, word may have gotten out about that Nigerian prince and his emails, but what about the emails from that famous charity?
That’s right. Charity scams are among the worst at this time of year, according to Norman police spokesperson Sarah Schettler. The bad guys know that all these good feelings can be good for them too.
“We see them increase during the holidays,” Schettler said. “Be careful when things don’t seem right.”
According to an Oklahoma survey from AARP:
* 78% of Oklahomans have been targeted or experienced at least one form of fraud in the past.
* 71% of Oklahomans will use their debit cards this holiday season (credit cards and digital wallets are more secure online).
* 61% of Oklahomans plan to purchase gift cards as holiday gifts, and 60% purchase store-bought gift cards. Scammers have been known to tamper with standard cards.
53% of Oklahomans plan to use peer-to-peer (P2P) apps like Venmo, Zelle or Cash App to send money, and 46% of P2P users have sent money.
*ey to someone they didn’t know well (not recommended).
*38% of Oklahomans reported receiving a request for a monetary donation to a charity that felt fake or fraudulent.
* 35% of Oklahomans have received a false notification about a shipping problem.
Impostors posing as charities are often the most common scam during the holiday season, Schettler says. The imposter will claim to be a prominent, well-known charity asking for donations. Well-meaning givers are happy to open their wallets to help hungry children, hurricane victims, veterans or other important causes, only to discover that it turns out not to be the organizations they gave the money to.
If at any point things seem suspicious, take a step back and call the charity directly, Schettler said.
“Just stop and contact them directly,” Schettler said.
Two characteristics of such scams stand out; when they ask for gift vouchers or to have money transferred. Real charities don’t ask for money, Schettler said. Gift vouchers also unsafe.
“Gift cards are basically just cash on a debit card,” Schettler said. “They are able to take that money without leaving a trace.”
On the road
Scams also happen while someone is shopping. One of these is the parking scammer. If someone has their hands full of parcels or shopping bags, someone often comes to them while these items are being put in the car. At that point, one of these people will have a story about breaking down, needing money for a ride home or some other situation. Sometimes they use a mobile phone and pretend to talk intensively with someone. At that vulnerable moment, someone alone, with small children or with full hands may feel pressured to simply give up the money. Even worse, they can become victims of a crime if the person gets close enough.
“You can say ‘No!’ and express yourself clearly. If you feel unsafe, it is time to call 911,” Schettler said. “Even if it is not an emergency, you can explain the situation to the operator. We can send someone. If the individual needs resources, we can help.”
Another thing to pay attention to while buying gifts is grabbing the shopping cart. For someone walking down the aisles of sparkling potential gifts, it’s easy to get distracted and divert attention from the handbag, cell phone or wallet in the shopping cart. There are people who are looking forward to this moment and going in.
“People often reach in and grab a purse or wallet,” Schettler said. “We see the quick grab happening a lot this time of year.”
Then those packages arrive at your home. While porch pirates can be a problem year-round, they are more common during the holidays for two reasons.
First, the pirates know that Amazon and other online retailers are having sales during the holidays, so this is a good time for them to scour the neighborhood looking for those deals on people’s doorsteps. Second, many online stores send the item, especially expensive electronics or other prestigious gifts, in packaging with the brand name on it.
“Those boxes show what they are,” Schettler said.
Schettler’s advice echoes that of the AARP: “Consider alternatives to front-door package delivery – see if the carrier can hold packages at the nearest location or request that the carrier place packages in a location that is not easily visible from the street .”
For a happy new year
The AARP offers Oklahomans some additional tips for a safe and happy holiday season.
Recognize that online advertisements about incredible sales or options that are too good to be true should not be believed.
When purchasing gift cards, order directly online from the issuer, whether a direct retailer, restaurant or other entity. Scammers can tamper with gift cards available on over-the-counter store shelves.
If you are not familiar with the individual or company, do not use P2P apps such as Cash App, Zelle and Venmo to make purchases.
Avoid using debit cards online; credit cards offer better protection against fraud.
