Beware Holiday scams!

HOLIDAY SCAMS AND TIPS

HELLO everyone.

This the season to buy,sell,have a good time right?

It is also the season for scammers/con artists everywhere to try and rip off as many people as they can.

I'm just passing on a few smart money suggestions that might help you  keep your money safer.

• When shopping only take the cards or money you need. Leave other credit cards at home. Why? by taking them all at once if you lose your purse or wallet/ or its stolen- its all gone at once.
• have a written back up list of drivers Lic and credit card numbers along with credit card company phone numbers-- on paper as computers or electronic devices can crash and then your information is gone, this way should your cards/wallet/purse be stolen you will have all your information in a safe place and handy when you need it.
• Pick pockets--guys try keeping your wallet in the front pocket of your pants as its a lot harder for some one to get it, and its way to easy for them to take it out of your back pocket.
• DO not give information like SS# or credit number over the phone or from emails to people you do not know.
• If you get scammed CALL the local law enforcement-do not be to embarrassed to call--this is why many scammers get away with it--CALL the authorities as soon as you realize you were scammed.Tell them exactly what happened.
• Call all credit card companies and inform them of unwanted charges and if your cards were stolen/lost. Do this as soon as possible.

there are a lot of cons going on this time of year. I heard about this on the radio--you get a call asking when you will be home from a package carrier so you can sign for it. They come by when you are home in a uniform and have a package with gifts they need you to sign for--But they just need $3.95 for delivery charge and it has to be credit card so that there is a transaction for it--sounds legit right? They even have portable credit card terminals.--Problem you swipe the card and the terminals have been altered to keep your info which is later used to make a duplicate charge card!!
Pretty complicated scam and they do give expensive gifts, but even if they drop off a hundred dollar gift and charge your card for 3,000! they made out big time.

so be smart with your money, Do not give out information especially in emails if you do knot know the company or have not ordered anything from them.

be care full of giving any information to a charity you have not requested information from.

All in all its better to delete any email you are not sure of and just examine what is being pitched to you.

I hope you all have a safe and wonder full Holiday.