Be Aware of these 6 Common Holiday Scams of 2022

As the 2022 holiday season kicks into high gear, many people’s spending, shipping and giving habits tend to shift too. While their intent is often good, there is no shortage of naughty folks attempting to take advantage of the hectic time of the year. While you finish up your seasonal shopping, be aware of these 2022 holiday scams that could turn your happy holidays into a financial holi-daze.
Fake Online Stores
As you go about your online shopping, make sure that you’re visiting reputable stores. A new way for scammers to bait shoppers is by setting up fake stores online that closely replicate popular retailers. Signs a store is fake includes deep discounts on all products, no contact information, poor grammar and low resolution images. Shopping on these types of fake stores can result in having your credit card stolen or you may send money for a gift that will never show up.
Charity Scams
Sadly, scammers are taking advantage of those trying to give to credible causes. How? By creating fake charity websites or setting up fraudulent crowdsourcing campaigns. These scams can be over the phone or online and use hard-sell tactics. Always do your research about the campaign organizer before giving to a cause you’re not familiar with.
Fraudulent Shipping Notifications
A popular 2022 scam includes fake shipping notifications for items you certainly never purchased. These may come via email or text, and generally include a link to update shipping and payment information. If you’re unsure what the email or text is referring to, it’s fake. Make sure to keep track of the items you do order and use legitimate tracking from USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc to keep tabs on your packages.

This is an example of a fake shipping notification. Note the improper grammar. We’ve hidden the link for your protection.
Too Good to be True Pricing
If you come across a website that has pricing for products that seems unbelievable, it probably is. Whether they are trying to replicate a different site or label the site as an authorized reseller, chances are it really is too good to be true. Ordering such an item can result in giving up your credit card info or paying for something that will never arrive.
Gift Card Scams
With gift cards being a great gift for many, a common holiday scam in 2022 includes fake gift cards. It’s wise to never purchase gift cards from anyone or anywhere except an authorized seller. Scammers will often sell gift cards on digital forums and social media that have zero value.
Social Media Seller Scams
Social media marketplaces are often full of fraudulent ads for fake products, all designed to steal your personal information. You may find organic ads or paid ads for fake items on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and so forth. If a link takes you to a strange website, chances are, you shouldn’t purchase anything from it.
This holiday, the team at MORBiZ wants you to stay safe online and off. We hope that you have a safe and happy holiday and a fantastic New Year. If your New Year’s resolution includes improving your business’ digital footprint, count on the small business Internet marketing pros at MORBiZ to design a custom
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