It’s the holidays, and that means scammers are ready to pounce on unsuspecting people. Wicker and Wilde try to share all the scams that are coming out and it's tough to keep up. A little awareness goes a long way, especially when new scams pop up as fast as holiday sales! And now Artificial Intelligence is making it more difficult to spot a scam, so we should all be educated.
Here are the top scams to look out for:
Fake retail websites: Always verify
Package delivery scams: You may get texts claiming there is a "delivery problem" with an online order you probably didn't place. Criminals posing as package delivery services like UPS or FedEx tell consumers they must turn over their credit card information to receive a phony delivery.
Paying for seasonal work: Always go through company websites to apply for jobs. You never have to pay to work somewhere.
Charity scams: Confirm the charity is real before donating and go through their official website, not an email or text.
Use your gut instinct: If it feels like a red flag, it is.
Above all, stay alert and stay smart—because scammers never take a holiday.