Beware Holiday Scammers
’Tis the season for fraud. During this time of charitable giving and online shopping, scammers are looking for opportunities to steal money, goods and identities.
AARP Virginia urges members to be vigilant. Check on the latest scams through the AARP Fraud Watch Network: aarp.org/fraud.
Seasonal scams include gift card fraud, where con artists post offers online to buy gift card balances; and bogus charities, where nonexistent organizations are fronts for fraudsters to pocket donations.
Virginians reported 56,135 cases of fraud in 2018 to the Federal Trade Commission, with shop-at-home and catalog-sale fraud making up 5 percent of incidents.
Want to hit back? AARP Virginia fraud fighters will give a presentation to your community group.
Email aarpva@aarp.org to schedule one.
