Tuscaloosa Patch Holiday Shopping Safety Guide 2020

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — The busiest shopping time of the year is here, bringing with it a surge in online and in-person shopping that will ultimately mean more opportunities for crime. As holiday shopping gets in full swing, Patch spoke with Tuscaloosa area law enforcement officials to get safety tips to protect consumers during what promises to be a holiday season like no other.

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The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office (TSCO) reminded those shopping online to track their purchases and have a trusted person at the delivery address to pick up the package. Additionally, TCSO also recommended shipping items purchased online to a work office address if possible.

TCSO Public Information Officer Jessica McDaniel told Patch that during last year's holiday season, the sheriff's office received an uptick in reports of packages stolen from doorsteps.

"A lot of people are going to be doing some online shopping due toCOVID, so if that's the case they need to remain vigilant when having their packages shipped," she said. "Be sure to use trusted websites, too. I'm sure the scams will continue or escalate, so just beware of that."

Tuscaloosa Police Department spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor cautioned online shoppers to be aware of the cliché of deals being too good to be true, which continue to evolve forms on both the traditional web and social media.

One easily-overlooked online scam technique, Taylor pointed out, comes in the form of "typosquatting" websites, which she described as instances where scammers will register a domain name that is a misspelled or misrepresented version of an existing brand or retailer, such as Targetz.com or Wissh.com. These websites will present themselves as a popular brand, she said, in the hopes of cashing in quickly during busy seasons like the holidays.

"I know that many of us, myself included, think we're too savvy to fall for online shopping scams," she said. "But scammers are upping their game with some of these sites, and innocent people are falling for it - not because they're unaware, but they may just not be paying close enough attention."

Taylor then suggested using gift cards or credible payment services, such as PayPal or Apple Pay, for online purchases, primarily because they do not require the customer to provide a credit card number to the vendor during a transaction.

Apart from underscoring awareness when shopping online, Taylor also cited crime statistics from last December that included 78 reported burglaries of residences and businesses within the Tuscaloosa city limits, in addition to 82 reported vehicle break-ins.

McDaniel said while auto burglaries are common year-round across the metro, the holiday season is also usually accompanied by an increase in vehicle break-ins.

"Vehicle break-ins during the holidays are often reported in shopping areas where people can go in and check car doors and move on to the next one," she said. "Always be aware of your surroundings and don't forget to lock your vehicle - someone stealing out of cars doesn't want to break windows and draw attention. Keep any valuables or purchases in your trunk if possible, or at least out of plain sight."

McDaniel also provided the following in-person shopping safety tips:

• Avoid shopping alone.
• Park in well-lit areas.
• Carry minimal cash.
• Never leave personal items unattended.
• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason.
• Have your keys ready before you walk to your vehicle.
• Ask security for an escort to your car if you feel uncomfortable.
• Do not leave new purchases or valuables in plain view inside your vehicle.

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