Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
SPRINGFIELD—The holiday season brings with it pumpkin pie, warm happy greetings, sleigh rides, and scams. FBI Springfield encourages the public to be more vigilant than ever to spot potential scams during this busy time of year. Scammers take advantage of the public’s tendency to rush during the holidays and are very intentional and clever about finding ways to get into victim’s wallets. In general, the types of scams do not change significantly from year to year. However, the techniques scammers use and the methods of deploying scams do change.
“Protecting your personal information is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself from scammers, “said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “Even though it is a hectic time of year, slow down and take time to verify the source before providing any information that personally identifies you.”
According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (IC3) 2023 Internet Crime Report, 15,783 Illinoisans reported losses of $335.8 million ranking the state eighth highest for number of victims and seventh highest for victim loss.
Gift cards are commonly used by scammers to request payment. Victims get either a spoofed email, phone, or text from a person in authority asking the victim to purchase multiple gift cards for either personal or business reasons. According to IC3, from January 1-October 31, 2024, U.S. victims reported a loss of more than $288.6 million in gift/prepaid card transactions associated with a variety of scams like romance scams, government impersonation, and lottery/sweepstakes/inheritance scams.
Many scams are found in links to quizzes or advertisements for free items. Targeted social media ads may advertise highly discounted products for flash sales or giveaways. Some are legitimate advertisements, but it is always important to check and verify. Visit the company’s website to see if the free items are advertised there as well. Also, consumers can call the company, or the local chamber of commerce to verify the company is legitimate.
Puppy purchase scams are an increasingly prevalent advance-fee/online shopping scam that can end in heartbreak when the tail-wagging package is not received. Fraudsters use social media or other websites to offer puppies for sale and take money but never deliver the animal. They may also ask for additional money for fictitious reasons such as veterinarian bills. From January 1-September 30, 2024, the IC3 received approximately 2,600 complaints related to puppy scams, with about $5.6 million in losses.
In general, be wary of deals that are too good to be true, requests to take quick action, and payment via nontraditional means like gift cards or quick payment transfer sites or apps. Going directly to a reputable source is the safest way to verify the legitimacy of a transaction. The FBI suggests consumers do the following to reduce their chance of being victimized:
- Check your credit card statement routinely.
- If purchasing merchandise online, ensure it is from a reputable source.
- Do not trust a site with your credit card information just because it claims to be secure.
- Be cognizant of web page addresses that look like familiar sites but are slightly different.
- Steer clear of untrustworthy sites or ads offering items at unrealistic discounts or with special coupons.
- Be vigilant when receiving items purchased from online auctions and third-party marketplaces.
- Do not respond to unsolicited emails or clink on links within the email.
- Avoid filling out forms contained in email messages that ask for personal information.
- Only open attachments from known senders.
- Only donate to known and trusted charities.
- Secure credit card and bank accounts with strong passwords or passphrases.
- Be cautious of exaggerated claims of possible earnings or profits.
- Beware when money is required up front for instructions or products for employment.
- Be cautious when dealing with individuals outside of the country.
If you believe you are a victim of a scam, contact your financial institution immediately. Contact law enforcement and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov, regardless of dollar loss. You can also call FBI Springfield at 217-522-9675.
More information on holiday scams can be found on the FBI.gov website.