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12 Days of Consumer Protection series from the FTC. The FTC 12 Days of Consumer Protection is a holiday series to help you save money and avoid scams. Each day, they will cover a new topic — from shopping online and bogus shipping notifications to temporary job scams and fake charities. They will give you practical information you can use every day and share with your family, friends, and community so they can be safe too. This holiday season will look very different as we seek to spend (sometimes virtual) time with loved ones, while staying safe from COVID-19. Jim Kreidler with the Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC said, “The holiday season is often a time of giving and a real joyful time, but its also a time when scammers are out there and they’re really trying to steal people’s money.” He said, mainly it’s about checking online reviews and being aware of where you are shopping. You can follow the days of consumer protection with their blog here. Hawking in a winter wonderland On this 2nd day of Consumer Protection, it’s all about online shopping. Because that’s what we can do this year, right? (OK, it’s a lot of what we do any year.) If you’re spending some of your hard-earned money online, make sure you know where it’s going. Because it’s pretty easy for scammers to put up a fake website that looks a lot like a real one. A scam website may show up in your search results, or scammers may send you a phishing email that looks like it came from a company you trust, but actually takes you to a rip-off site. They’ll be happy to take your money and leave you with nothing. So: Instead of clicking on a link, say in an email, type in the store’s URL yourself, so you know where you’re headed. Only pay on sites with URLs that starts with https. That ‘s’ means your transaction is encrypted…but scammers know how to encrypt, too. So don’t believe that a site is the real deal just because the site uses encryption. Pay by credit card. It gives you way more protections if something goes wrong. Check out more about how to shop safely online. And if you spot a scammy site or you don’t get what you ordered, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. By Jennifer Leach, Associate Director, Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC But the hire is not so delightful On this 3rd day of Consumer Protection, we’re talking about earning some extra cash. For lots of us, the holiday season is a good time to pick up some part-time work. It’s when retailers and delivery services need extra help. And, especially during the pandemic, many of us could use the cash. So how can you spot and avoid a job scam, whether for a temporary or permanent position? Don’t pay to get the job. Scammers may say they have a job waiting for you, or guarantee you a position, if only you pay them. (Maybe for a certification, maybe for training materials, or something else). But no legitimate job will require you to pay out-of-pocket expenses or fees to get the job. Anyone who does is a scammer. Never give your personal info up front. Some scammers will try to get your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number as soon as you’re in touch with them. But that’s a scam. Do your research. Before you apply for a job listed on a social networking site or in an online ad, search online for the name of the company plus the words, “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” Read reviews by former employees. If the news is bad, or very little about the company shows up, that’s a red flag telling you to move on. If you spot a job scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. By Jim Kreidler, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC Holiday ‘grift’ exchange? It’s the 4th day of Consumer Protection and ’tis the season of…gift cards. Even in Santa’s workshop, it’s one of the most popular ways to give to family and friends for the holidays. But gift cards also are a favorite way for scammers to steal people’s money. Anyone who demands that you pay them with a gift card, for any reason, is always a scammer. Simply put, no matter what the story is, never pay with a gift card. Back to the fun stuff: Giving gift cards. Here are a few things to keep your season merry and bright: Buy gift cards from sources you know and trust. Think twice about buying gift cards from online auction sites, to avoid buying fake or stolen cards. Inspect gift cards before you buy. A gift card should have all its protective stickers in place. Report the card to the store if anything looks scratched off or damaged. When you buy, save the receipt. Keeping the gift card receipt can be helpful if you run into problems with the card. Treat gift cards like cash. Report a lost or stolen gift card to the card’s issuer immediately. Most card issuers have toll-free numbers you can find online to report a lost or stolen card. Depending on the card issuer, you may even be able to get some money back. Spot someone who wants you to pay with a gift card? Tell the FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov. By Carol Kando-Pineda, Attorney, FTC, Division of Consumer & Business Education Fa-la-la-la fake On the 5th day of Consumer Protection, you get an email or text message that’s supposedly from UPS or FedEx, complete with one of their logos — and it seems legit. It says your item is ready to ship but you need to update your shipping preferences. But here’s the lump of coal: the message is bogus and there is no package. Scammers are phishing for your information. And if you click on a link or download the attachment, you’re likely to end up with a virus or malware on your device that steal your identity and your passwords. Avoid any holiday reindeer-livery confusion and follow these tips: The weakest link. Don’t click. If you get an unexpected email or text message, don’t click on any links — or open any attachments. If you think it could be legit, contact the company using a website or phone number you know is real. Don’t use the information in the email or text message. Mal where? Guard against malware. Make sure you keep your software up to date. Set your security software, internet browser, and operating system (like Windows or Mac OS X) to update automatically. By Carol Kando-Pineda, Attorney, FTC, Division of Consumer & Business Education