AARP Virginia Fraud Alert: Holiday Scam Survey

As online holiday shopping ramps up, so do scam attempts. A new AARP survey shows that over 80% of adults have faced some form of holiday-related fraud, yet many of us are unaware of scammers’ tactics – especially online.

The AARP holiday scams survey identified three specific threat areas: online shopping scams, gift cards with zero balance scams, and shipping scams. Here are tips to keep yourself safe from these deceptive tactics this winter.

When shopping online, visit sites you know and trust, and avoid clicking on offers or advertisements for deep discounts on hot items. The safest way to give a gift card is by purchasing it online through the retailer’s website. Check the balance when you receive a card and use it sooner than later. Lastly, if you receive a text claiming ‘problems’ with a shipment, don’t engage with it; if you are concerned about the status of a package, contact the shipper directly.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.