The 12 Days of Holiday Fraud – Day 8: Holiday Shopping Spree

Today, we present Day 8 of The 12 Days of Holiday Fraud - our version of the holiday classic The 12 Days of Christmas. We’re warning about the top 12 scams we see leading up to the holidays and how to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.

“On the eighth day of the holidays, my scammer targeted me with . . .”

DAY 8: Holiday Shopping Spree

You’ve had a tough day between home and work, but just got great news via a text message - you were randomly chosen to receive a $1,000 Walmart gift card!

You click on a link to redeem your prize. After going through a series of screens and supplying your name, email address, social security number and other personal information, you’re given a redemption code you can use at Walmart to receive your $1,000 gift card.

However, when you go to Walmart, you are informed they have no such promotion, and the code you have been provided is fake.

HOLIDAY TIPS

• Beware of text messages saying you have randomly won a gift card, free item or some sort of prize.
• Ask yourself, if you have entered any sort of contest or drawing for the prize you received. If the answer is no, then the prize you received falls under the category of “too good to be true."
• If you think a prize or contest might be real, contact the company at the phone number listed on their official website – not from the text or email that notified you about the prize.

Stay tuned for 12 Days of Holiday Fraud – Day 9.

Check out Day 1: Secret Sister Gift Exchange.

Check out Day 2: Requests for Charitable Gifts.

Check out Day 3: Secret Santa Shopper.

Check out Day 4: Fake Holiday Marketplaces.

Check out Day 5: Package Delivery.

Check out Day 6: Gift Cards.

Check out Day 7: Fake Apps.

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© 2020 Buckingham Strategic Wealth^®