By ROMEO Y. LIM
SOME columns ago, I wrote about the 12 scams of Christmas which I basically got from a UK-based blog. I was quite surprised that a number of my readers appreciated that column and emailed me to ask if I knew of any other scams that were perpetuated during the Christmas holidays.
Well, apart from the usual modus operandi of the Dugo-dugo or Salisi gangs and other similar schemes, there appears to be a new criminal strategy wherein thieves would appear at your doorstep bearing gifts so they can be allowed inside and then rob the place. A smart maid who did not fall for their trick was unfortunately shot dead but her master’s house was saved from robbery.
I was also able to get a few tips from another blogger, Courtney Jespersen, whose tips may be coming from the United States but can be adopted by an international audience.
First on the list are phishing scams. For the internet uninitiated like me, phishing is the activity of defrauding an online account holder of financial information by posing as a legitimate company.
Jespersen writes that phishing emails are a common way for hackers to get at your personal information or break into your computer. Around the holidays, beware of e-cards and messages pretending to be from companies like UPS, Federal Express or major retailers with links to package tracking information. Also, be wary of any communications received from charities to which you’ve never given money. To outwit these scammers, don’t open any emails from senders you don’t recognize, and definitely don’t click on any links or download any attachments in these messages.
And if you get an email from a particular retailer and you haven’t recently made a purchase (or signed up for the mailing list), assume that it’s a phishing attempt and don’t click through just in case.
Second, gift cards may seem like the perfect gift, but they can also be the perfect scam. Sometimes, cards that are sold online from sites other than those of major retailers can turn out to contain little or no money. But gift card scams abound in stores as well. Sophisticated criminals copy gift card information right off cards on the rack, wait for a shopper to activate the card and then swoop in and steal the funds.
For the safest possible purchase, buy gift cards directly from the source. And when buying in-store, remember to check that the scratch-off activation code on the back is untouched before purchase if the card was openly on display.
Third, do you order some of your gifts online? The downside of convenience is that the pile of packages that arrives on your doorstep may be tempting to some unsavory sorts. People have reported boxes being stolen. To prevent becoming a victim of box burglars, you could require signature on delivery for anything you order for yourself and ask anyone you expect to be sending you things to do the same. Or, you can ask the shipper to hold your goods at its local outpost, where you can then pick it up.
Lastly, Jespersen underscores that criminals may be getting savvier with their online schemes, but the traditional pickpocketing and smash-and-grab techniques still exist. Crowded malls filled with frantic, distracted eleventh hour shoppers are a pickpocket’s dream come true. So, as obvious as it may sound, make sure you take precautionary measures, such as holding your purse and/or wallet close to the front of your body, keeping all bags zipped and removing any purchases from plain sight in your car.
No comments:
Post a Comment