As the number of people who do their holiday shopping online increases, so do the risks, according to police.
“If it is too good to be true, it probably is,” said Mesquite Police detective Brandon Keys, who specializes in cybercrime investigations. “If the latest and greatest toy or electronic device is on sale for half of what it is everywhere else, it is probably going to be a scam. Any reputable seller is going to be able to be contacted in person to verify that what they are advertising is legitimate.”
Credit card fraud also increases during the holidays, so consumers are encouraged to take safeguards to ensure they don’t become victims.
“Typically, what we see are the weeks after Christmas, we will start getting a lot of reports in because people discovered their credit card account has been hacked and they are missing a lot of money,” Keys explained. “I would recommend people to check daily to make sure there aren’t any unauthorized transactions. The moment you see one, contact the credit card company so they can get your account locked down.”
Keys said online shoppers should use a credit card that offers consumers protection against fraud.
“Most credit companies offer some sort of consumer protection, he said. If you buy with their card and something is not what it is supposed to be…there are some protections. I encourage people to inquire about that and see if that is something their credit card offers, and if so, use that card for those transactions,.”
[su_pullquote align=”right”]Exchange Zone The Mesquite Police Department, 717 N. Galloway Ave., has two spaces in its parking lot designated the Exchange Zone, which is available 24/7, monitored by video surveillance and is in view of personnel inside the police station.[/su_pullquote]He said people should never use their debit cards when shopping online so to prevent their bank accounts from being drained.
“If your credit card gets compromised, the credit card company is going to be out of the money, not you,” Keys said.
One alternative is a prepaid credit card, which can be purchased in various amounts from several retailers. The cards feature a Visa, MasterCard or American Express logo and can be used as a credit card to make online purchases.
“There is a fixed amount on there, so if it is compromised, they aren’t going to get anything else. If you know you are going to make a transaction for a certain amount, you can get a card in that amount,” Key said.
Online options
Buying items directly from individuals through websites like Craigslist has become increasingly popular among consumers.
Police have seen an uptick in rimes occurring through these transactions. It is the most commonly reported online shopping-related call police get during the holidays.
“It’s what we see the most scams from,” Keys said.
Most of the reports are from those who sent money to “hold” the item to prevent others from purchasing it first.
“They may say, ‘I have had 15 people interests, do you want to put down a deposit?’” Keys noted.
Victims pay the deposit and never hear from the seller again.
There are also safety issues tied to buying items from strangers.
Police recommend completing the transactions in a well-light, highly populated area such as a mall or designated exchange zone.
GoFundMe scams
Many take advantage of the goodwill of others through fake stories designed to gain sympathy. GoFundMe and similar sites have become popular avenues for those seeking to defraud others.
“A lot of these people will have some sort of social media outlet attached. This is one way to verify who they are. Another way is to call other organizations they may mention in their ad,” Keys explained.
Vetting the scammer’s legitimacy is often the hardest part.
“Unfortunately, unless it’s a really well-known organization, you are not going to know 100 percent,” Keys said. “Be cautious before blindly giving money away.”
Article by Kenny Green of the Mesquite News | [email protected]
http://starlocalmedia.com/mesquitenews/