Q. What do I look for and how do consumers avoid Christmas scams?
A. ‘Tis the season for holiday shopping, and consumers are expected to spend more this year than they did in 2017. The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects U.S. holiday retail sales to top last year’s, with Americans expected to spent a total of $682 billion.
Jim Winsett of the BBB. As shoppers set records on spending, Better Business Bureau urges consumers to be prepared for scammers looking to take a bit of your holiday cheer. BBB shares “The 12 Scams of Christmas” and ways to identify and avoid:
Look-Alike Websites
Many consumers will see an increase in the number of email alerts announcing deals, gifts, and sales. While mailers can look legitimate, the links may lead to look-alike websites meant to trick you into entering private information or give scammers an opportunity to download malware onto your computer. To protect themselves, consumers should: