Friday the 13th and early Black Friday shopping deals are converging but protecting your information doesn’t have to be scary. With the holiday shopping season kicking off, fraudsters are ready to turn your bargain-hunting into bad luck. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) urges everyone to follow these tips to protect your money and personal information this Friday the 13th and the rest of the holiday season:
- Stick to trusted, well established websites. Pick online stores that you have previously visited. Search online for reviews and complaints of the site.
- Use your credit card, not your debit card when shopping online. Credit cards offer additional protections that your debit card may not provide. Debit cards are a direct line to your checking account.
- Know the payment methods scammers like. Scammers love forms of payments that are difficult to track. These include gift cards, prepaid debit cards, crypto currency, wire transfer, or payment apps.
- Beware of phishing messages. Thieves may pose as legitimate retailers and claim there are problems delivering a package or ask you to verify your payment methods. Think the message is real? Reach out to the company using a phone number or website you’ve looked up yourself.
- Review your financial statements and keep your receipts. Read your financial statements during the holidays and beyond, ensuring there are no errors or fraudulent charges. If there are, dispute them immediately. Also, it's always a good idea to have your receipt of purchase on hand in case you need to report a missing order or return an item.
SCDCA will offer a free webinar on “Shopping Scams” on Wednesday, November 25 at 10:30 a.m. The webinar will cover everything you need to know before clicking "check out." Register here to watch/listen from any computer or smart phone.
Download Ditch the Pitch, SCDCA's guide to guarding against scams, for more information on how to spot a scam. Victim of a scam? File a scam report with SCDCA. Call (800) 922-1594 or visit consumer.sc.gov and click the How Do I… button, then Report a Scam. Also notify your financial institution and any payment service apps used in the transaction.
About SCDCA
Established in 1974, SCDCA has more than fifty years of experience in protecting South Carolina consumers while recognizing those businesses that act honestly and fairly. Cultivating a marketplace comprised of well-informed consumers and businesses prevents deceptive and unfair business practices, allows legitimate business activity to flourish, resulting in the promotion of competition and a healthier economy.
