WASHINGTON — We've all received them. Texts, calls, and even e-mails that were likely a scam.
According to the Better Business Bureau, online purchases and package deliveries skyrocket during the holiday season, and the scammers waste no time taking advantage.
"If it feels suspicious it is," said Alex Quilici, the CEO of YouMail.
He started the robocall-blocking app after he discovered his father had been the victim of a scammer.
"My dad was a victim of a Microsoft technical support scam and when he passed away we found all of these charges going back years. He had no idea and he had multiple masters degrees, super smart guy and he got fooled," said Quilici.
One of the more popular scams this time of year is the package delivery text or call scam.
"It says there's a problem with the package. You get a text or call saying it's missing a payment held up in customs," said Quilici. "The other is the fake purchase scam. Amazon or Walmart telling you that someone bought an iPhone or high ticket item and press one if it's not really you," said Quilici.
He said you should never click a link in a text or e-mail, that you're not expecting.
"It's just suspicious you're getting the communication at all," said Quilici.
The BBB offered these tips to avoid getting scammed:
- Keep track of your deliveries. Scammers hope you'll just assume they are talking about a package you ordered recently, without double-checking. It will be much harder for them to fool you if you know what packages you are expecting, from what companies, and when.
- Know delivery company policies. Delivery companies will never contact you with unsolicited calls or texts. Depending on how you sign up for notifications, messages usually are posted within a secure online portal. Be leery of unsolicited messages, especially if you never signed up for text alerts.
- Never give sensitive personal information to strangers. If an unsolicited caller asks you for personal information, even if they claim to represent a company you trust, hang up and call the company using the official customer service number. Calling the company yourself is the best way to determine if the inquiry is legitimate or a scam.
There's also a warning about "puppy scams". The FBI says puppy scams involving fake advertisements for pets, have caused at least $5.6 million in losses so far this year.
The Better Business Bureau has reported that 80% of sponsored pet advertisements may be fake.
So how can you avoid a scam, and still add a furry friend to your family?
"You want the breeder to get on the phone with you, talk to you, send pictures of their dogs, records of their breeding program, vet records, things you can verify that person is a real person with a real litter of puppies," said Gina DiNardo the spokesperson for the American Kennel Club.
She also said you should always try to get references and if possible, meet the puppy at the breeder's home.
A reminder, if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don't click on suspicious links or ads. Make sure you secure your accounts, like banking and shopper reward accounts with strong and unique passwords.
If you believe you're a victim of a scam or fraud, the FBI says to do the following:
- Immediately contact your bank or financial institution.
- Report the incident to law enforcement.
- File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center