Holiday scams are coming to town: How to stay one step ahead
Looking east at the Atlantic Terminal building at Flatbush Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, and 4th Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn. Photo: Tdorante10/Wikimedia Foundation
The holidays are here, but while you’re dreaming of deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, scammers are dreaming of a different green. With online shopping hitting a seasonal high, New York Attorney General Letitia James is sounding the alarm: Scammers are in full force.
“The holidays should be a joyful time for New Yorkers to connect with loved ones, support local businesses, and give back to their communities,” said Attorney General James. “Unfortunately, scammers often take advantage of this time of year to ramp up their frauds. As New Yorkers begin their holiday shopping, I urge everyone to take caution to protect themselves and their personal information.”
To help keep your holiday spirits intact, here are some savvy tips from the Attorney General’s office to stay safe while shopping:
Shop smart online
Stick with reputable retailers. If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Double-check website URLs before entering payment information, and steer clear of any site without a working customer service number or physical address.
Beware of holiday-themed emails that promise “Exclusive Deals” or “Free Gift Cards.” Clicking on these can lead you straight into a phishing scam. And remember: public Wi-Fi is for cat memes, not credit card numbers.
Lock down your devices
Before diving into online deals, ensure your gadgets are secure. Update your Wi-Fi password (especially if it’s still “password”), install antivirus software, and check for system updates to protect against lurking cyber-Grinches.
Check the fine print — and your bank statements
Scammers count on the holiday hustle to sneak unauthorized charges onto your accounts. Always review your credit card and bank statements carefully, even if your shopping cart only had socks and candles. If you notice anything fishy, report it immediately.
Still waiting on that package that was “guaranteed” to arrive yesterday? Contact the seller, and if they ghost you, file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) online or at 1-800-771-7755. New Yorkers who suspect they’ve been scammed are encouraged to report it to OAG.
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