Avoid Holiday Scams: Tips for Last-Minute Shoppers

By Joe O’Leary

December 21 @ 5:00 am

The holiday season is in full swing, and with very little time to finish shopping, many Connecticut residents are looking to get the best and brightest gifts for their loved ones this year. It’s important, however, to be careful when gift shopping, as scams are growing every day.

The Federal Trade Commission reported more than 350,000 fraud complaints related to online purchases this year and as many as 25% of Americans have lost money to scams, with some losing $500 or more.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection recently released a list of what to watch for when shopping online, both for best practices to make sure gifts are perfect – and if they aren’t perfect, can be returned – and to avoid falling for a season-ruining scam.

First, the DCP recommends that all shoppers review return policies, many of which are being tightened to fight return fraud. Double-checking can prevent headaches in January.

The agency warned against going after deals that seem too good to be true and advised consumers to be on the lookout for knock-off or counterfeit products, which can be frustrating to receive, potentially mislabeled and possibly harmful. The DPC also advised consumers to use a credit card when shopping, as it’s easier to dispute fraud than with a debit card.

Another piece of advice the DCP laid out: shop local and in-person. While it may be less convenient than shopping online, you’ll be picking out a product yourself and making the purchase right then and there, meaning the odds of getting scammed fall drastically.

Additional organizations are also working to help shoppers avoid scams. The Federal Trade Commission recommends doing research when something doesn’t quite seem right. A quick online search may reveal when sellers or products are less than trustworthy. It’s also valuable to check terms of sale to see if they might cause headaches for you after the fact.

The FTC also said to never buy from online sellers who demand someone pays with unusual options, including cryptocurrency, gift cards or wire transfers. Very few responsible sellers will use these as primary payment choices.

The Better Business Bureau added that misleading social media ads are one of the easiest scams to fall for, and that checking twice before buying something can prevent frustration.

Perhaps the Grinchiest scammers out there will pretend to be from charities, the BBB added. Donations make wonderful gifts, but only if the donation gets to the charity it’s advertised for. Donors are asked to look out for fraudulent charities and scammers. If someone pushes you to donate, especially making immediate donations, that’s a red flag. When making a donation online, be sure to check the charity’s information through internet searches to verify they are supporting the cause they claim to.