10 Top Holiday Scams for Fenway, Kenmore Shoppers to Guard Against

By Deb Belt (Patch Staff)

Ah, the joy of the holidays. From gift card scams to fake charities, from phony money being pinned under your wiper blade to thieves swiping packages off your doorstep, scam artists crank into high gear during the holidays.

Here’s a list of 10 scams to be on the lookout for as you hit the malls, shop online and shop locally:

1. Fake $100 Bill — Maryland authorities are warning residents of scams targeting drivers in mall parking lots. Unsuspecting shoppers who see a $100 bill tucked under their windshield wiper should watch out. Officials say there’s a carjacker lurking nearby waiting for the driver to grab the money – which may be fake – and let down their guard.
2. Deceptive Advertising — Just like fake websites, fake apps are built at this time of year to target people who prefer shopping from their phones. The IBT asks shoppers to be especially wary of phone shopping apps; even those marked with an Amazon or Ebay logo could be fake. And, dangerous links, phony contests on social media, and bogus gift cards allow scammers to steal your personal information, saysMcAfee.com.
3. Bogus Charities — The holidays prompt us to donate to charities, but scam artists take advantage of this by sending emails for fake charities or sharing viral promos. Before donating, do your homework. Groups such as the Better Business Bureau,Charity Watchand even the Internal Revenue Service have tips to safely donate to charities.
4. Promotional Emails — With Cyber Monday here, consumers are looking for the best deal, and scammers know it. The International Business Times says to treat all promotional emails that aren’t coming from a trusted retailer as dangerous material. Even if you open the email, do not click on any links inside.
5. Gift Card Scams — The popular gifts can be an opportunity for thieves, who copy the numbers off cards in a store, then check online or call the 1-800 number to see if the card is activated. Once a card is active, the thieves spend its contents online, and the rightful card holder has no money, says the Better Business Bureau. And never buy discounted gift cards sold online; scammers will keep your cash, and use the gift cards.
6. Holiday Travel Scams — The internet is full of fake online travel deal links that can steal your personal data. There’s another travel risk: Using an infected computer at your destination puts you at risk of spyware accessing your information.
7. Parking Lot Peril — Another ploy targeting people in busy parking lots has a suspect yelling for help in a mall parking lot. When a Good Samaritan approaches to see if they can help, the suspect tries to grab the potential victim. Or, criminals will tap bumpers with another car, then jump in and drive away when the victim gets out to check on the damage.
8. Use a Credit Card — Using a credit card is safer than swiping your debit card when shopping. Credit cards have more security features than debit cards and credit companies are more willing to replace your stolen money than most banks, according to IBT.
9. If It Sounds Too Good To Be True — A common scam has suspects approaching car owners in a parking lot to ask if they can help repair a vehicle’s ding or dent. Often, the scammer asks for only a small amount of money, such as $200. Once the work is done the driver finds peeling paint or other quality problems. Or, the suspect will demand more money for the shoddy work, up to a thousand dollars or more.
10. Package Theft — The internet is full of videos of thieves stealing packages left by delivery services on doorsteps. Police believe the criminals follow delivery trucks into neighborhoods, says The Today Show. To thwart thieves, require a signature for all packages. If nobody will be home to accept a delivery, have the package held at the nearest service location for you to pick it up.

Patch staffer Kasandra Brabaw contributed to this story, which previously was published in slightly different form by Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch.