Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
With the holidays around the corner and seasonal shopping underway, FBI Philadelphia wants to remind our communities that criminals do not take the holidays off and to be vigilant of online shopping scams deployed this time of year.
If a deal you find this holiday season seems a little too good to be true, it probably is.
Shoppers should be mindful of online shopping schemes designed to go after their personal or financial information.
“Though the holidays are the season of giving, scammers are always looking to take,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Online scams these days are becoming more sophisticated and creative—but all have the same end goal – to separate you from your information or money. We encourage our communities to remain vigilant when navigating the cyber space this holiday season, and to report any suspect holiday scheme or fraud to the FBI through ic3.gov.”
Some of the most common holiday scams reported to the FBI include:
- Non-delivery scams, where you, as a buyer, pay for goods or services you find online, but you never receive your items.
- Non-payment scams, where you, as a seller, ship purchased goods or services, but you never receive payment for them.
- Gift card fraud, where a seller asks you to pay with a pre-paid card.
In 2023, Pennsylvania residents filed over 1,600 complaints of nonpayment/non-delivery scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). These complaints totaled almost $9 million in reported losses.
In 2023, New Jersey residents filed over 1,200 complaints of nonpayment/non-delivery scams to the IC3, totaling about $5.8 million in reported losses.
Below are a few tips from FBI Philadelphia to protect yourself from scammers this holiday season:
Practice Good Cyber Hygiene:
- Use strong, unique, and complex passwords or phrases for each individual accounts; do not reuse passwords across multiple accounts.
- Beware of phishing attempts. Do not click on any suspicious link or attachment in e-mails, texts, websites, or social media.
Know Who You Are Buying from or Selling To:
- Verify the legitimacy of a buyer or seller in advance of selling or purchasing.
- If purchasing from a company for the first time, do your research and look for any reviews.
- Check the website or URL when shopping to ensure it is legitimate and secure.
- Be vigilant when purchasing through a third-party vendor or seller.
Be Careful How You Pay:
- Never wire money directly to a seller.
- Use a credit card when shopping online and regularly monitor bank statements to confirm all purchases are your own.
Monitor the Shipping Process:
- Always get tracking numbers for items you have purchased online.
If you believe you are a victim of a holiday shopping scam or a related fraud, you can report it to your financial institution as well as report it to the FBI by filing a complaint to the IC3 at ic3.gov.
FBI Philadelphia can be reached at (215) 418-4000.