The FBI Charlotte Field Office offers Holiday crime prevention tips:
With more people shopping
online, FBI Charlotte is warning shoppers to be diligent about what gifts they
are buying, and where they're buying those gifts. Scammers count on you not to
do your homework, and to believe those expensive gifts in pop-up ads are truly
half price. Don’t fall for it. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably
is. Scammers may offer too-good-to-be-true deals through phishing e-mails or
advertisements. Some may offer brand name merchandise at extremely low
discounts or promise gift cards as an incentive to purchase a product.
There
are ways to protect yourself when shopping online:
- Buy directly from a
secure and reputable website.
- Beware of social
media posts that appear to offer special vouchers or gift cards, or
particularly low prices.
- Verify the
legitimacy of buyers or sellers before making a purchase. If you’re using
an online marketplace or auction website, check feedback ratings.
- Avoid solicitations
or ads with misspelled words, broken English, or requests to pay for your
order with a gift card.
- Track your order
through your original confirmation e-mail.
- Check your credit card and bank statements regularly to make sure no fraudulent charges show up.
If you
suspect you've been victimized:
- Contact your
financial institution immediately upon suspecting or discovering a fraud.
- Contact local law enforcement.
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