Shoppers need to think twice before buying popular holiday gift as 80% of listings are fake ads to drain bank accounts
Since over three-quarters of postings were discovered to be fraudulent advertisements that will steal your money, shoppers have been cautioned against purchasing a popular holiday present this year.
Although many Americans are hoping to receive something for Christmas, police have warned that these offers are frequently scams.
This year, consumers have been alerted to alleged “Puppy Scams” by the Boston Police Department.
It stated in a statement that “Puppy Scams are considered one of the common holiday scams.”
“Adding a dog is a typical holiday season activity.
According to the Better Business Bureau, 80% of sponsored pet ads on the internet may be fraudulent, despite the fact that the internet has become the preferred method for making new pals.
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“People should look for alternative advertisements using reverse image search before buying a furry pet.
“Never buy a pet before seeing them in person, and do your homework on what the breed’s average pricing is.
“Avoid wiring, using cash app or gift cards.”
Additionally, the force advised consumers to report holiday frauds to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, the Federal Trade Commission, or the police.
To find out what to do and how to keep an eye on your credit if scammers manage to obtain your SSN, visit IdentityTheft.gov.
The BBB urges consumers to “only purchase from a reputable dealer,” and to look up reviews and complaints on a company’s website before making a purchase.
Holiday shoppers warned to check URL for four-letter word when buying online or risk having bank account drained_1
“Think twice, if someone advertises a purebreddogfor free or at a deeply discounted price, it could be a fraudulent offer,” the Better Business Bureau stated in a release.
Additionally, it exhorts buyers to never purchase a pet before viewing it in person or via video chat.
Before making a purchase, you should visit the breeder and inspect the facilities.
As an alternative, the BBB advises you to think about contacting a nearby animal shelter.
Before making a purchase, the American Kennel Club also suggests that buyers watch out for a few warning signs.
These include whether the merchant is solely open to communicating via email and not by phone.
Bank tips for avoiding scams
Because artificial intelligence is being used to make frauds more sophisticated, it’s critical to understand how to recognize a scam:
- Be skeptical of online deals that seem too good to be true, especially on social media.
- Scammers will often use tactics to make you panicked so you make quick decisions – be cautious if you are told to take immediate action and verify who has contacted you.
- Chase Bank warns customers to “never return any unexpected funds without calling Chase first.”
- Never send money to someone you have only spoken to online or by phone as this is likely a romance scam.
- Unless you 100% know who you are talking to, never give someone remote access to your device.
- Never accept help from strangers at an ATM and always be vigilant when making withdrawals.
- Do not send money or click any links indicating that you have won a prize.
Source: Chase.com
It claims that dishonest merchants frequently have headquarters outside of the US and are reluctant to provide their international phone number.
Additionally, the AKC cautions against believing so-called breeder “badges,” since they do not distribute them.
In the past three years, the BBB has received over 10,000 reports of scams involving puppies and dogs.
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Only 10% of victims report their offenses, according to FTC estimates, thus the actual number may be significantly higher.
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