Travel Scams

Around this time of year, many people will travel to spend the season with friends or family. This is a prime opportunity for scammers to strike. A scammer may send links to a fake website that claims to be affiliated with a travel agency. The site will offer deals on travel and hotel bookings for a very low price. The website will allow you to "book" these fraudulent flights and hotels by providing payment information. In reality, the deal was simply too good to be true, and the scammer now has access to some of your financial information.

Fake Websites

Scammers may set up fraudulent websites claiming to sell high-value items at a discount. These sites tend to appear more frequently during the holiday season, as demand for common gift items increases. Some telltale signs of a fake site: The fake site's web address will have an extra number or letter; the site may also have grammatical errors or limited contact information.

Lotteries and Prizes

Social Media Scams

Gift Card Scams

Current Title: 
Omni Merchandise Planning Analyst for Gap Specialty Men's Woven Tops & Outerwear

Degree: 
Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship (May 2023)

Missing Package Scam

Charity

Sadly, many scammers will capitalize on the goodwill that flourishes this time of year by asking you to make a donation to a charity that does not actually exist. Charity scams involve scammers collecting money by pretending to work for a legitimate cause or charity, or a fictitious one they have created. Often scammers will exploit a recent natural disaster or crisis that has been in the news. They may also play on your emotions by claiming to collect for a cause that will secure your sympathy, for example to help sick children.