FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: NOVEMBER 8, 2017
RE: PRESS RELEASE – AVOID HOLIDAY SCAMS
When getting into the holiday mood, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs offers the following tips to help make sure the season stays jolly:
· Check a Business’s Reputation– Ulster County Consumer Affairs advises not doing business with a company whose physical location is not readily apparent. Contact Consumer Affairs to find out if there are any unresolved complaints against a business or service provider, prior to conducting business.
· Exercise Caution with Craigslist– When transacting business on free bulletin board sites, never wire money to the seller. Check out seller ratings or read reviews if you’re buying from eBay. A good rule of thumb for any online shopping? If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Shop locally whenever possible!
· Keep Your Wallet Safe– Always be aware of your surroundings during the rush of holiday shopping. If you’re not paying attention, thieves can swipe your wallet or glance over your shoulder for PIN and card numbers. Make a conscious effort to cover the keypad when entering a PIN number. Always put your cards in a secure place and your wallet safeguarded.
· Research Charities– Scammers will often take advantage of one’s goodwill during the holidays. Before donating, check to see if your chosen charity meets the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance’s 20 Standards for Charity Accountability at www.give.org. Avoid charities that are not forthcoming about how your dollars are used.
· Be Careful with Your Email– Exercise safe email practices by only clicking on links or attachments that you know are from secure sources. Holiday-themed e-cards and messages that claim to have links with packaging information are common, so keep track of your spending habits online and check for anything that doesn’t match (email addresses, typos, grammatical errors, etc.). For extra protection, keep your antivirus software current.
· Be Careful with Gift Cards - Givers: purchase gift cards only from established, successful businesses; Recipients: use the gift card sooner rather than later.
Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.