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Six Tips to Help You Avoid Holiday Shopping Scams

Aug 02, 2021 10:39 AM

We may have just finished shopping on Friday, but many of us are still planning our Online Holiday Shopping, with much of it taking place online. According to a 2021 Deloitte holiday retail survey, 84 percent of customers will tackle their holiday shopping list this year utilizing laptops, desktops, smartphones, and social media. While purchasing online is more convenient and frequently more cost-effective (hello, coupon codes!), it also carries a higher risk. Scammers are all over the internet, and this is their favorite time of year; according to data from ACI Worldwide, fraud attempts over the holiday season increased by 31% in 2021.

There are so many websites who help us to avoid this kind of scams, FloKoin is one of them for everyone’s Online Holiday Shopping.

We enlisted the help of consumer protection specialists to identify the most popular scams so far this holiday season, as well as advice on how to prevent them:


Shopping on the internet? You can pay with a credit card


For the majority of internet purchases, credit cards provide additional protection. Many cards also come with perks like return and purchase protection. You'll be able to challenge any illegal charges that appear on your statement. Credit card protections differ, so check with your issuer to be sure you're aware of all of your card's features. 




Email links should not be clicked

We frequently receive unwanted emails. According to Jones, you may receive a message that appears to be from PayPal or another well-known organization, informing you that there is a problem with your account. If you provide your username and password to a scammer, they will save the information and transfer your funds to a foreign account. According to Jones, this is a major fraud right now, and while these emails appear to be authentic, they are not. “The general guideline is that you should never click on anything in an email,” he stated.


Before making a donation, conduct some research about the organization

It's the season for giving, with the generous spirit of the holidays and year-end fundraisers. Ensure that your money goes to the intended recipient and not to a scammer. If someone calls and asks you to donate to a charity, don't feel obligated to do so. Instead, do some research on the charity to ensure that your donation is worthwhile?


The Scam of Corrupt Coupons

There are numerous websites dedicated only to giving consumers with coupon and promotional discount codes for use while purchasing online. Thieves have taken notice of the trend. The key is to avoid entering any personal data. To utilize their coupons, the top coupon websites don't require you to spend anything or register. It could be a phishing scam if you have to submit your personal information. Giving over your cell phone number in exchange for a promo code could also be a terrible idea, as you may be swamped with marketing calls.


Gift cards should only be purchased as gifts, not as a means of payment

Gift cards are an excellent option for the adolescent in your life. They are, however, a scammer's preferred method of stealing your money. Anyone who contacts you and demands payment using a gift card, for whatever reason, is a scammer.


Phishing scams should be avoided at all costs

Criminals will generate a bogus email offering a deal that is too good to be true around the holidays. If you click on any of the links in the email, you risk infecting your computer with malware or being asked for financial information, which might lead to fraud.

At FloKoin, we wish you a joyful and safe online holiday shopping!