From giving money to charity to getting a new puppy to finding a temporary job, Boston Police are warning community members that scammers will be pitching a variety of cons this holiday season.
Here are some of the most common holiday scams police say residents should look out for around this time of year.
Puppy Scams: About 80% of sponsored pet advertisements online may be fakes, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Police recommend those looking to adopt a furry friend conduct a reverse image search for other ads, research fair prices for the breed, and never purchase a pet before seeing them in person. When paying, BPD says, avoid wiring money, using cash app or gift cards.
Grandparents Scams: Elder family members may be targeted by scammers pretending to be or represent a family member in trouble via call text or email. The scammers may demand money through gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency even gold bars, while creating a sense of urgency and fear. Law enforcement officials advise victims to hang up on these kinds of calls immediately and reach out to family members before taking any action.
Charity Scams: These scams, using familiar sounding names or impersonating reputable charities to steal donations, are also common around holidays. Individuals may verify organizations using sites like BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch or Guide Star, and donors may ask questions through Smart Donor Checklist.
Gift Card Scams: Police recommend shoppers purchase gift cards from behind a counter or a legitimate store website, rather than kiosks or third parties online during the holidays to avoid a variety of gift card scams.
Missed Delivery Scams: Scammers may send texts or emails instructing victims to call a number or click a link because a delivery could not be completed. Individuals should not click any links and know delivery companies will never ask for social security numbers or credit card numbers for delivery purposes.
Holiday Phishing Attempts: Law enforcement recommends residents watch out for emails impersonating companies offering “giveaways,” warning accounts may be compromised, or offering free gift cards for information. Victims should not click links and look out for warning signs like spelling mistakes or grammar errors.
Temporary Holiday Jobs Scams: This scam advertising online temporary positions for holiday work by impersonating legitimate companies was “the number one riskiest scam for people ages 18-44 in 2023,” according to the BBB. Victims should know employers will never ask for payment for supplies, applications or training fees, be wary of suspiciously high pay advertised and never work for a company before being hired, police say.
Other common scams may come in the form of emails phishing for personal information or including malware links or fake online shopping retailers offering unrealistically low prices or high discounts.
The FBI, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Trade Commission and other government agencies offer more lists of common scams and how to spot them.
Anyone who feels they may have been scammed may find help by contacting their local police department, the Federal Trade Commission’s page to report fraud online, and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. If a social security number is stolen, victims may monitor their credit and other evidence of identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov.