Scammers are not taking a break for the holidays, with the FBI San Francisco Division cautioning shoppers and donors against a rise in deceitful strategies aimed at swiping cash and personal info this season. In a recent press release, Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp stressed the importance of alertness, saying, as per the FBI San Francisco Division, "Criminals don’t take holidays off" and that they are "seeing scammers employing aggressive and creative schemes to take advantage of the season’s generosity and high online shopping activity." The warning highlighted several current scams, including too-good-to-be-true online deals, phony charities, cryptocurrency traps, gift card tricks, and social media cons designed to phish personal details.
The bureau outlined the most common frauds being employed, like creating bogus websites with unbelievable discounts and exploiting third-party marketplaces with stolen credentials, underscoring that such ploys are not limited to physical goods with a reported $5.6 million lost in puppy scams alone this year, and fake charities have been spotted soliciting donations via methods as varied as phone calls and social media platforms; these scammers mimic real organizations to divert well-intended funds into their pockets. People are also being lured into putting money into sham cryptocurrency platforms. At the same time, gift card enthusiasts need to be wary of cards purchased under pretenses, and social media isn't safe either, with fraudulent ticket and gift card offers abound.
To help the public take precautions, the FBI suggests verifying any questionable websites or offers, removing suspicious links, and ensuring all personal shopping and banking accounts have robust, distinct passwords. They also advise a thorough inspection of gift cards for any potential tampering signs, and they stress smart charitable giving by only donating to vetted organizations, especially those that don't ask for donations in the form of wire transfers or gift cards. Be skeptical of any unusual payment requests. According to the FBI announcement, it's extremely unlikely for government agencies or law enforcement to demand payment via unorthodox methods like gift cards.
