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As we enter the holiday season and begin all of the activities associated with it, there are some things we need to consider so that everyone can enjoy themselves to the fullest. Here are a few tips ranging from public safety to protecting yourself from fraud and theft.
This season reflects the highest number of instances for credit card fraud. Forty three percent of identity theft cases and occasions for theft of credit card information occur while people are shopping for holiday gifts. Online shopping and purchases made over the internet are targeted by thieves who attempt to gain your information so they can take control of your finances. Please do not stop shopping online because it is still a great way to make purchases but consider the reputability of the website and use all cautions when entering your information. Some tips to consider when shopping online; go directly to websites instead of accessing them through a link, log out of personal accounts after shopping, do not access unfamiliar links sent to you by email or text, do not store payment information on any website, and review your credit card statement for inaccuracies and unknown charges. Consistent review will assist you in locating fraudulent charges and notifying your banking institution so that you are not responsible to pay for them.
Scammers are increasingly active during the holiday season preying on the elderly and those people who experience loneliness. A few of the scams to be vigilant about are:
Relative Imposter Scam: This situation involves someone contacting someone and claiming to be a family member in need of funds, usually for a criminal offense. The scammer will falsely impersonate a member of law enforcement stating that a family member has been incarcerated and if the victim can produce “bail money”, their family member will be released. If you receive a call of this nature, please call the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office, and report it. We can attempt to contact the caller, and if the claim is legitimate, we can verify it for you.
Secret Holiday Shopper Scam: Scammers often take advantage by posing as phony secret shopper companies and luring people into secret shopper scams. They will try to recruit participants online, by phone, or through the physical mail. Most secret shopper scams end up conning victims into paying some sort of application fee when they sign up. someone will contact you either in person or over the phone asking you to donate to a charitable cause. If you receive this solicitation, ask specific questions and if the person becomes pushy or aggressive, stop the conversation and report it to law enforcement.
Text Message Scam: This scam is accomplished by sending text messages that ask you to access a link by claiming that you have been awarded something, asking you to verify information, or asking you to activate a credit card. If you are unfamiliar with any content in the text DO NOT access the link. If you give up any information, the scammer may be able to access all activity on your phone.
Another pitfall to be aware of is package theft, where the thieves are commonly known as “Porch Pirates”. One study showed that 43 percent of online shoppers had experienced some type of package theft after having packages shipped to their residence. There are ways to reduce the instances when someone would have an opportunity to steal any packages shipped to a residential dwelling. Most thefts occur during daylight hours because a majority of people are at work. The package is usually visible from the street and the thieve usually drive through the area several times looking for an opportunity. Here are some simple tips to help you avoid any theft of your purchases; retrieve a package as soon as it arrives, have the sender require a signature for release, pick up your package somewhere else, if you are leaving town, have the carrier hold your packages until you return or have a friend check regularly for you, consider a door camera or a game camera for surveillance.
Another tip to enhance the security of you and your neighbors is the “see something, say something” principle. If you see strange vehicles or people frequenting your neighborhood, call law enforcement and report the incident. If you can, get descriptions such as license plate number, color of car, type, and color of clothes on people, and anything that could help us locate the identify the unfamiliar visitors.
Have a great holiday season.
County Connections is a column on timely topics and service information from your Cook County government. Cook County – Supporting Community Through Quality Public Service
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