The holiday season is here, and with inflation causing prices to skyrocket, business insiders warn people not to take unnecessary financial risks.
Planning and making informed decisions is essential to avoid being taken advantage of.
On top of typical holiday stress, there's now an additional concern about online scammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. It's crucial to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to avoid falling victim to their fraudulent schemes
"During the holiday, things can get a little harrier. I mean, think about the increase in pricing that we've seen in the past year; budgets are tight within our families, and so it's very possible that the place that they normally would go to buy maybe it's at a price that they're not willing to buy for. Maybe it's not going to arrive in the time that you're looking, so you go online just to find that place that has a great price or can ship it today. And that's where you can find yourself getting caught," said Better Business Bureau (BBB) Tim Johnston.
"If it doesn't look right, or it's too good to be true, it probably is," said Reno Police Department Public Information Officer Stephen Greenlee.
According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker, online scams were the number one riskiest scams of 2022.
"You go online just to find a great price, or they can ship it today type thing, and that's where you can find yourself getting caught really short-changed in a way that it may not arrive, or if it arrives, it's not going to be the quality or the item that you thought it was going to be or they might be taking your information or your money," explained Better Business Bureau's Tim Johnston.
Johnston says another essential tip is not to use your ATM card directly linked to your bank account; instead, use a credit card or digital payment service like PayPal.
Another type of card to be cautious of is a holiday gift card.
"They're going to go ask you to purchase a gift card and then give that gift card away. It's just another way for them to basically filter that money," said Greenlee.
Also, be distrustful of text messages that look off.
"You'll get a text message from somebody that says, Oh hey, are we going to see you at the party tonight?" And, you respond, "I don't know who you are. And, then they say, oh, wrong number, but then they try to continue the conversation with you," explained Greenlee.
The Reno Police Department points out that the best way to avoid online scammers altogether is not to purchase online at all - instead, go to local retailers - and support your local community.
"So if you're at all concerned about online shopping and the dangers that come along with that, shopping local is always a great opportunity; it also helps with the local community and the economy here because it's supporting the people that work at those retail stores," explained Greenlee.
Check out the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker for more resources to avoid scams.
