Bah Humbug: Prepare for Holiday Scammers

With the holidays upon us, a new survey from the AARP Fraud Watch Network shows the traditional season for giving may become a peak time for taking among con-artists targeting Washington consumers.

From charitable giving scams, to gift card and Wi-Fi cons, the report reveals that most holiday shoppers in Washington State (67%) fail a quiz on avoiding popular holiday scams, while many regularly engage in

risky behaviors that could put them squarely in the sights of holiday

con-artists.

Charitable Giving: Among notable scams this holiday season, AARP State Director Doug Shadel says charitable giving scams are especially prevalent this time of year. “Washingtonians are very generous when it comes to donating to charity,” said Shadel. “But while it’s good to give, it’s important to give wisely.”

Last year, Americans gave $358 billion dollars to charity according to

the National Philanthropic Trust. “But we also know that there are hundreds of bogus fundraisers out there exploiting this generosity by keeping most of the money they raise for themselves,” said Shadel. “This is why it is so important to ask where the money is going and check it out before giving.”

Government officials who regulate charities and fundraisers say that while most charities are legitimate, there are many telemarketers who keep 85-90% of the money they raise.

Before donating to a charity, make sure they are registered with the Secretary of State and ask how much of the money goes to the

charitable fundraiser and how much goes to the charitable purpose.

Washington consumers can check if a charity is registered by calling the

Secretary of State’s Office at 1-800-332-GIVE or online at www.sos.wa.gov/charities.

Package Delivery: Many holiday shoppers in Washington are unaware that package delivery companies are NOT responsible for stolen packages that are left at your front door without requiring a signature. Most (77%) holiday shoppers say that in the last year, a package has been left on their porch without requiring a signature. AARP recommends that you require a signature on all package deliveries. You can also write specific instructions for the delivery company on where to leave your package, and don’t forget, you can always have your packages delivered to you at work.

Public Wi-Fi: Many holiday shoppers in Washington wrongly believe that it is okay to share sensitive information via free Wi-Fi networks as long as they are secured by https. When in fact, online security experts warn

that consumers should NEVER use public Wi-Fi to access bank accounts or to buy products online.

Debit Card Vs. Credit Cards: Consumer protection experts recommend the use of credit cards rather than debit cards for most purchases to better protect consumers from fraud and theft. With credit cards, you are liable for only up to $50 of fraudulent use. But in the case of a lost or stolen debit card, financial losses to the consumer can be much more

significant.

Gift Cards: Fraud experts report that thieves sometimes hit store gift card racks, secretly write down or electronically scan the numbers off the cards, then check online or call the toll-free number to see if someone has bought the cards and activated them. As soon as a card is

active, the scammers drain the funds. By the time you try to use the same card, the money is long gone. AARP recommends that you only purchase gift cards from reputable sources. Better yet, get them directly from the store they’re from – and preferably directly from the store cashier – and ask them to scan the card to ensure it has the correct balance.

AARP’s last recommendation: don’t stress. Pay special attention to your health and well-being when making important purchasing decisions. Research shows that people experiencing life stressors such as an illness, loneliness or financial difficulties are less able to spot and avoid scams.

For more information and detailed tips on how to avoid all manner of holiday scams, visit www.aarp.org/holidayscams. Consumers can also sign up to receive timely fraud alerts from the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or by calling the AARP Foundation Fraud Fighter Call Center at 1-800-646-2283.