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BBB Warns Of Holiday Scams

By Joel Hardy

12/22/2014

(KAIR)--Scams are reported to the Better Business Bureau all year long, but in December, it seems as though scammers are out in full force, looking to take advantage of people's holiday spirit.

BBB spokeswoman Denise Groene says there are multiple holiday related scams to be on the lookout for, including seasonal work from home opportunities. She says these jobs can be anything from gift wrapping to sending out invoices. A big red flag is if you are asked to send money. You should be getting paid by them, not the other way around.

Groene says another popular holiday scam involves a supposedly lost friend or family member. “The travel scam is when you receive an e mail from a family member stating that they are stranded, and typically it is an emergency type situation. They will say that perhaps the car broke down and they need you to wire money”. Groene says the best way to handle this is to call the family member in question to find out for certain that they are indeed in an emergency situation.

The holidays can also be a time for scammers to prey on those who may want someone special to spend them with. Groene says that online dating sites see a surge in December, but urges caution when meeting someone new. She suggests that you get to know the person before you agree to meet them, and especially before you agree to send them money.

You can learn more about the different types of holiday scams by visiting the BBB website, bbb.org.

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