FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: NOVEMBER 8, 2017
RE: PRESS RELEASE – AVOID HOLIDAY SCAMS
When getting into
the holiday mood, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer
Affairs offers the following tips to help make sure the season stays jolly:
·
Check a Business’s Reputation – Ulster County Consumer Affairs advises not
doing business with a company whose physical location is not readily
apparent. Contact Consumer Affairs to
find out if there are any unresolved complaints against a business or service
provider, prior to conducting business.
·
Exercise Caution with Craigslist – When transacting business on free bulletin
board sites, never wire money to the seller. Check out seller ratings or read
reviews if you’re buying from eBay. A good rule of thumb for any online shopping?
If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Shop locally whenever
possible!
·
Keep Your Wallet Safe – Always be aware of your surroundings
during the rush of holiday shopping. If you’re not paying attention, thieves
can swipe your wallet or glance over your shoulder for PIN and card numbers.
Make a conscious effort to cover the keypad when entering a PIN number. Always
put your cards in a secure place and your wallet safeguarded.
·
Research Charities – Scammers will often take advantage of
one’s goodwill during the holidays. Before donating, check to see if your
chosen charity meets the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance’s 20
Standards for Charity Accountability at www.give.org.
Avoid charities that are not forthcoming about how your dollars are used.
·
Be Careful with Your Email – Exercise safe email practices by only
clicking on links or attachments that you know are from secure sources.
Holiday-themed e-cards and messages that claim to have links with packaging
information are common, so keep track of your spending habits online and check
for anything that doesn’t match (email addresses, typos, grammatical errors,
etc.). For extra protection, keep your antivirus software current.
·
Be Careful with Gift Cards -
Givers: purchase gift cards only from
established, successful businesses; Recipients: use the gift card sooner rather
than later.
Consumer Affairs can
be reached at 340-3260.
