Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office

  Crime Prevention Unit

Holiday Scams

During the holiday season, scammers are in the business of taking rather than giving. Here are some tips, from Sid Kirchheimer (author of Scam-Proof Your Life) on how you can protect your identity and money:

• Shopping Online . Beware of scammer run websites that can lead you down the path of identity stealing computer “malware.” There are many copycat websites that simulate legitimate retailers who get your credit card number or sell you inexpensive counterfeit goods. In order to protect yourself don't click on a link before you carefully read its address. Look for unfamiliar firms, misspellings or missing letters that might be a clue to an illegitimate company. Don't provide your credit card numbers, when paying online, unless the address begins with “https.” The “s” stands for security.
• Gift Cards : Thieves will take gift cards from retailer racks and scan them to read the codes under the scratch-off strips. Then they put them back on the racks and check toll-free numbers later to see if the cards were activated and for how much. They then use the card's numbers to make purchases, before the recipient of the gift card does. To prevent this from happening to you, purchase any gift cards from a store's customer service counter or website and not from less secure gift card racks.
• Greeting Cards : You receive an email stating that someone has sent you an e-greeting. If you click on the link or attachment you might get “malware.” To avoid this, delete, without opening, any email that states you are receiving the greeting from an unnamed “friend,” “admirer,” or even “webmaster.” Legitimate notifications have a confirmation code that can be used to view the card by going to the card company's website.
• Charity Cons : You may receive a request to fund police, fire, veterans, etc. during this holiday season, but in reality they may deal with “fake” funds and your money, if given, won't go to these particular groups. Your best idea is to ignore any email solicitations and beware of the many fundraising phone calls. Don't provide a credit card number to someone who calls you. Ask for their printed material. Before donating, always check to see if the charity is legitimate by making a phone call or doing an online search at www.charitynavigator.org.
• Deliveries : Some tricksters are sending out emails claiming that a courier service or the US Postal Service has a package for you. Don't click on the links promising “details.” You may get a postcard about an “undeliverable” package. If you call the number it provides, you may be tricked into making an expensive overseas call, with the scammer getting part of what you pay. If in doubt, contact the courier or postal service by locating its phone number yourself.