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  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 12, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Christmas shopping, , ,   

    Gift Cards: A Trojan Horse for Human Trafficking 

    By Greg Collier

    The holiday season, a time of joy and giving, is being marred by a sinister global threat: human trafficking. This insidious crime, often hidden in plain sight, is exploiting vulnerable individuals on a massive scale.

    One particularly insidious manifestation of this global crisis is the widespread tampering of gift cards. Organized crime syndicates, often with ties to international criminal networks, are infiltrating retail stores worldwide to replace legitimate gift cards with tampered versions. These tampered cards, once activated, drain funds to the criminals’ accounts, leaving unsuspecting consumers with worthless plastic.

    This deceptive practice is just one facet of the vast and complex network of human trafficking. Victims are lured with false promises of better opportunities, only to find themselves trapped in forced labor, sexual exploitation, or other forms of modern-day slavery. The scale of this global crisis is staggering, with millions of people victimized each year.

    To safeguard themselves from this growing threat, experts recommend the following precautions. Before purchasing a gift card, examine it closely for any signs of tampering, such as tears, cuts, or misaligned packaging. If possible, check the balance of the card immediately after purchase to ensure it hasn’t been compromised.

    Digital gift cards, which can be sent directly to the recipient’s email, are less susceptible to physical tampering. Finally, if you notice any suspicious activity in a store, such as individuals hoarding gift cards or acting strangely, report it to store management or local law enforcement.

    By inspecting gift cards for signs of tampering, reporting suspicious activity, and supporting organizations working to eradicate human trafficking, we can play a crucial role in disrupting these criminal networks and protecting vulnerable populations.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 14, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Christmas shopping, discreet shipping, ,   

    What is the discreet shipping scam? 

    By Greg Collier

    It seems the only news stories about scams this time of year are related to Christmas shopping. To be fair, the holidays are when scams are most active. With so much money being spent by consumers, scammers are looking to for any way to get their hands on some. Previously, we’ve posted about the text message delivery scam, gift card scams including the new gift card draining scams, porch pirates, and a myriad of online shopping scams. Now a new scam has emerged designed to take your money while Christmas shopping.

    It’s called the discreet shipping fee scam, and it is an addition to online shopping scams. In this new scam, a victim may be lured into using a website that isn’t on the up and up. Once the victim places their order, and even pays for shipping, they’re contacted by the vendor. The vendor will ask if they want to add ‘discreet shipping’ to their order. The problem is, discreet shipping can take many forms, but they all want to steal from you.

    For example, if a shopper is ordering something but doesn’t want their entire neighborhood knowing what they ordered. Some examples that were given in that instance would be legal but questionable items like cigars, CBD products, and vaping accessories. Another version of the scam will charge the customer the discreet shipping fee if they indicate their purchase is a gift. Also, if a shopper were to order an item from overseas, they might be charged for discreet package stamps, so their purchase will avoid customs.

    Unfortunately, by the time the vendor tries to charge a shopper discreet shipping fees, they already have the shopper’s money from the purchase, and the shopper may not receive the item they paid for at all. The best prevention in these cases is only using reputable websites for shopping. When shopping online, try to use a credit card as much as possible. Credit cards provide much more protection than most forms of payment. Don’t use payment apps such as Zelle or Venmo, as they’re designed to be used for friends and family. Most retailers will not ask for payment by these apps. Not only should you check the retailer’s reputation by doing a Google search about them, you should also check to see how long they’ve been around to avoid fly-by-night retailers.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 13, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Christmas shopping, , ,   

    How common is gift card draining? 

    By Greg Collier

    Recently, we made a post about how scammers can drain the value of a gift card as soon as you buy one. The scam has been dubbed “gift card draining” by law enforcement. While it may seem like a new scam due to the news coverage it’s been garnering lately, it’s been around since stores started selling gift cards on racks and kiosks. We don’t like to repeat subjects too often on this blog, but gift card draining has been so prevalent in the news, we thought we’d take another look at it.

    In the gift card draining scam, scammers may tamper with physical gift cards available for purchase in stores. They may discreetly scratch off or expose the card’s activation code without alerting the store staff. Once the scammer obtains the activation code, they redeem the value on the card once it’s activated by an unsuspecting shopper. This makes it useless for the person who eventually purchases it.

    If you’re wondering how widespread this scam is, you may want to take precautions while doing your holiday shopping this year. In Northern California, police were patrolling a Target store when they noticed a man allegedly taking gift cards from their racks and doing something to the cards before putting them back. When police officers approached the man outside the store, they discovered the man had thousands of gift cards inside his car. The cards were taken from 54 Target stores in 12 different California counties. The cards were stolen at stores from Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay Area.

    To protect yourself from potential gift card scams, consider implementing the following precautions. When purchasing gift cards, choose those from the middle of the pack, as they are less likely to have been tampered with. Conduct a thorough inspection of the card for any signs of alteration, especially if the security strip appears wrinkled or crooked, as these may indicate tampering. Keep the receipt when acquiring a gift card, as it can be valuable for assistance if the card is later found to be empty.

    In the unfortunate event that you detect a tampered card, promptly contact the issuing company using the customer service number provided on the back of the card. Although there’s no guarantee of recovering your funds, taking this step can significantly expedite the resolution process.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 6, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Christmas shopping, , , ,   

    Police warn of gift card draining scam 

    Police warn of gift card draining scam

    By Greg Collier

    Gift cards are a great idea when shopping during the holiday season. If you have someone on your Christmas list who is difficult to shop for or lives far away, a gift card can be the ideal present. However, it should be known that gift cards are also prone to fraud. The fraud doesn’t come from the companies who issue the cards, nor does it come from the stores who carry them. Instead, it comes from scammers who are looking to make a quick buck at the shoppers’ expense.

    While most scams are perpetrated online these days, this gift card scam requires the scammer to have physical access to the card. This requires the scammers to shoplift the gift cards. After leaving the store, the scammers engage in a scheme where they extract the security strip from the card and capture its number. Subsequently, they affix adhesive strips to replace the security strips before strategically returning the cards to the store rack. Upon a customer loading money onto the compromised gift card, the scammers receive notifications and promptly deplete the card of its funds. Typically, customers remain oblivious to the fraud until an attempt to use the gift card is made, often weeks or even months after the initial purchase. Recovering the funds is exceedingly uncommon once the card has been emptied.

    Police in the Philadelphia suburbs recently issued a warning about this scam, as they have recently received reports of hundreds of prepaid debit cards and Apple gift cards being tampered with at a local supermarket chain.

    To safeguard yourself from falling victim to this gift card scam, consider taking the following precautions. When purchasing gift cards, opt for one from the middle of the pack, as they are less likely to have been tampered with. Thoroughly inspect the card for any signs of alteration, particularly if the security strip appears wrinkled or crooked, as these may indicate tampering. Retain the receipt when acquiring a gift card, as it can prove valuable in assisting you later if the card is found to be emptied.

    In the unfortunate event that you discover a tampered card, promptly contact the issuing company using the customer service number provided on the back of the card. While there is no guarantee of recovering your funds, taking this step can significantly expedite the resolution process.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 4, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Christmas shopping, , , , ,   

    New delivery scam in time for the holidays 

    By Greg Collier

    By now, many of us should be familiar with the text message delivery scam. In that scam, scammers send out text messages posing as popular delivery services such as UPS, FedEx, and even the United States Postal Service. The text message claims a delivery can’t be made to the recipient’s address, and asks the recipient to click on a link provided in the message for further instructions. Once the link is clicked, the recipient is taken to a malicious website that asks for personal and financial information, so the delivery could be made. In reality, the scammers are looking for this information to commit identity and financial theft.

    This is a popular scam throughout the year, but incredibly popular during the holiday season, when most people are expecting deliveries to their homes. Now, scammers are taking a more straightforward approach by calling their potential victims directly. The callers are identifying themselves as drivers for the various delivery services. The phony drivers claim they have a delivery for you, but can’t find your home. Then, like the text message scam, the scammers start asking for personal and financial information so they can supposedly make their delivery. If you tell them you’re not expecting a delivery, the scammers will try to tell you that you’re being sent a gift from a friend or family.

    The best way to protect yourself from this scam is to keep track of your deliveries and who they’re being delivered by. Most vendors will provide you with a tracking number from that delivery service. If you receive one of these scam calls, but still have concerns, hang up and call the delivery service customer service number from their website. They’ll be able to let you know if you’re receiving a legitimate delivery and its status. Never give out your personal or payment information, even if someone is claiming to be from a company you trust.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 6, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Christmas shopping, , ,   

    Beware when buying gift cards for the holidays 

    Beware when buying gift cards for the holidays

    By Greg Collier

    Gift cards are one of the most talked about topics on this blog. Typically, it’s because gift cards are the currency of scammers. If someone asks you to pay them in gift cards, you’re likely being scammed. However, there is another problem with gift cards, even if you’re buying them for their intended purpose.

    Scammers and other cybercriminals will go into stores and record the information from the back of gift cards. They’ll then wait for someone to put funds on those cards. Once that’s done, the scammers will use the funds on those cards for themselves.

    This recently happened to a mother from the San Francisco Bay Area who was trying to buy Apple gift cards for her daughter. She bought a card at a supermarket and put $100 on it. When her daughter went to use the card, the funds were already gone. The mother then went to a pharmacy to get another Apple gift card, and again by the time she gave the card to her daughter it was already empty. She was eventually able to get a legitimate card from an Apple Store.

    Gift card scammers will often go into various stores and scratch the security strip from the card. They’ll document the card number before replacing the security strip with a sticker.

    There are some ways to protect yourself against this scam. First, you should always make sure the card has not been tampered with by inspecting the back of the card. Take a handful of cards from the rack and make sure they’re similarly marked on the back. Scammers will often place tampered cards up front to get the money quicker. Try purchasing a card from the middle of the pack instead.

    When buying gift cards, pay for them with a credit card whenever possible. A credit card will give you better protection against loss than if you had paid for the cards with cash or a debit card.

    If you receive a card that’s been emptied, you can try to contact the customer service number that’s on the back of the card. However, they can rarely ever get the money back or offer a refund.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 2, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Christmas shopping, , , , ,   

    Buying a puppy for Christmas? Watch out for these scams. 

    Buying a puppy for Christmas? Watch out for these scams.

    By Greg Collier

    Before we get started, we’d like to say that if anyone is thinking about adding a puppy to your family this holiday season, please keep in mind that doing so is a long-time commitment. Pets like this are not meant to be impulse buys and can live up to 20 years. Pet owners should always make sure they’re ready for that kind of dedication.

    Once that kind of decision is made, there are a number of pitfalls a prospective pet owner needs to be aware of before making their purchase, as the online world is full of puppy scams.

    For one, pet buyers should be wary of websites that claim to have puppies at below-market prices. A family in Richmond, Virginia, thought they were paying $700 to a website for a Yorkie puppy. They paid the supposed breeder with Walmart gift cards. When someone asks for payment in gift cards, that’s a major red flag that this could be a scam, as once the money is gone from the gift cards it can rarely ever be reclaimed.

    After the family paid the $700, the scammers came back and asked for more money. Typically, scammers will claim they need additional payment for things like shipping insurance or a specialty crate for transfer.

    Anybody can create a website claiming to be selling puppies using pictures stolen off the internet. To prevent yourself from being scammed by websites like this, you can do a whois search on the domain name to see how long the website has been around. If it’s only been around for a short amount of time, that’s a pretty good indication of a scam. You can also do a reverse image search to see if the pictures used on the website can be found anywhere else.

    A family from Greensboro, North Carolina befell a similar fate recently. A friend of theirs on social media said they were giving away puppies for a rehoming fee of $100. The family sent the fee through Venmo, but the friend claimed the payment didn’t go through and kept asking for the fee. It turns out that the friend’s Facebook page had been hijacked by scammers. It’s recommended, in this instance, to talk to the friend on the phone before sending any money. Like gift cards, once you send money through apps like Venmo, it’s gone.

    As always, when it comes to adding a new puppy to the family, we recommend only shopping locally and through reputable breeders. Contain your search to a reasonable driving distance, and do your due diligence when researching the breeder themselves. Check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints about the breeder.

    However, even more so than that, we ask that you consider adopting a puppy or even an adult dog from your local shelter. Shelter dogs are only there through no fault of their own and can be obtained at little to no cost.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on November 10, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Christmas shopping, , , ,   

    Don’t get scammed shopping for the must-have toys 

    Don't get scammed shopping for the must-have toys

    By Greg Collier

    We didn’t want to start talking about Christmas shopping yet, either. But if you want to get one of the must-have toys of the season for your kids or your grandkids, you probably want to get a jump on things now. Plus, it’s better to be aware of how the scams work now before it’s too late into the holiday season.

    Scammers love to take advantage of items that are in high demand. If they’re not scalping the item for an exorbitant mark-up, they’re selling knock-offs, or not selling anything at all.

    When items are in high demand, scammers will set up websites that look like they’re a legitimate marketplace where you can buy these items. They’ll often advertise the items at below-market value to entice customers to their website, typically on social media. Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest is where you’ll usually find these ads.

    If you go to one of these websites thinking you’re getting a deal on these toys, you’ll be mistaken. What typically happens is either the scammers will send you a cheap imitation of the toy you’re looking for, or they’ll take your money and disappear.

    There are ways to protect yourself from these Grinches. Try to stick to reputable and known retailers. If you think you’ve found a deal from an unknown retailer, do a Google search on the name of the retailer along with the words ‘scam’, ‘complaints’, and ‘reviews’. This should give you a good indication if the retailer is legitimate.

    You should also do a whois search on the retailer’s domain name. This should let you know when the website was created and where it’s located. You’ll probably want to avoid any retailers from overseas.

    Even if you’re using a reputable retailer’s website, be on the lookout for third-party sellers. On the item’s listing, it should tell you who the item is being sold by. Again, do a Google search on the company to check for complaints.

    Lastly, always use a credit card when buying online if you can. Credit cards offer more protection than other forms of payment that can be used online, and it will be easier to dispute a transaction if you’ve been scammed.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 9, 2021 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Christmas shopping, , ,   

    Is it safe to buy gift cards for the holidays? 

    Is it safe to buy gift cards for the holidays?

    By Greg Collier

    On this blog, we talk about gift cards a lot. That’s because they’re used by a multitude of scammers as an untraceable form of payment. As a matter of fact, the Federal Trade Commission recently released a report that stated at least 40,000 people lost a total of $148 million to scams that involved gift cards. Typically, these are scams that are demanding some kind of payment that supposed to prevent some kind of distress to the victim. Keep in mind that no company or agency accepts gift cards as payment unless it’s the retailer they’re intended for. You can’t pay bail with gift cards. You can’t pay your bills with gift cards. You can’t pay your taxes with gift cards. If someone is demanding that you pay them with gift cards, they are more than likely a scammer. As we are fond of saying, gift cards are the currency of scammers. But what if you wanted to buy gift cards for their intended purpose. Do you still have to worry about scams? Unfortunately, you do.

    For example, if you’re in the store looking at gift cards, make sure that the number on the back of the card isn’t already exposed. That could mean that the gift card was already purchased and out back on the shelf. Scammers will do this and wait for someone to re-purchase the card. When someone does buy the card, the scammers will quickly drain the card of the money that was added to it. Another version of this scam is when the scammers will scratch off the back to reveal the card number, then place a sticker over it waiting for someone to buy the card. In that case, compare the card with other cards on the rack to make sure the card hasn’t been tampered with.

    You may also want to avoid so-called gift card exchanges. This is where scammers will post on social media that they have a gift card for one retailer but want to trade it with someone who has a gift card for another retailer. However, after the trade is made, the victim finds out that the git card they received has little to no funds available on it.

    While gift cards are incredibly convenient for gift giving and receiving, there are many pitfalls you need to look out for, so you don’t have a complicated Christmas.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 8, 2021 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Christmas shopping, , , ,   

    BBB warns holiday shoppers about PayPal scam 

    By Greg Collier

    PayPal is a great payment option when doing your holiday shopping online. You can put just the right amount of money into your PayPal account for the item you’re looking to buy and not worry about being overdrawn on your account. However, that’s not the only worry you should have when using PayPal. The Better Business Bureau has recently issued a warning about a scam that may not be new, but has picked up in activity during the holiday season.

    This particular scam happens when you go to a retailer’s website that you may not be familiar with. You may have seen an ad on social media for the perfect Christmas gift. You may have seen an ad for a hard to get item at an unbelievable price. Even better, the retailer accepts PayPal for payment. The retailer sends you your delivery, but when you open the package, it’s not what you ordered. In fact, it’s some cheap trinket that may not even cost a dollar. The problem with this scam is that PayPal allows the scam to continue in many instances. The scammers have figured out that as long as something is delivered, in most cases, PayPal will side with the seller in a dispute, essentially giving the scammer your cash.

    If you’re using a new retailer for the first time, look for reviews online. Also, do a web search using the retailer’s name and the words ‘scam’ or ‘complaint’. This should be a good indicator to see if the retailer is legitimate or not. You can also do what’s called a ‘whois’ search on the retailer’s web address. This kind of search often gives you an indicator of where the retailer is located. While it’s not a guarantee you’ll avoid a scam, it will let you know if a retailer is from overseas, which is best to avoid.

    If you do end up being scammed through PayPal by an illegitimate retailer and PayPal sides with the seller, you can always file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau themselves. Again, while not a guarantee of getting your money back, PayPal has responded favorably to BBB complaints in the past.

     

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