Carol Ehlers, Human Sciences Specialist, Family Wellbeing and Finance
The “most wonderful time of the year” is also a busy time for scammers, who increase their efforts to steal your money or personal information. Protect the joys of the season and make sure you as consumers do not get ‘Scrooged’ by a holiday scam.
An easy way for scammers to take advantage of consumers is through online shopping scams. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says, “While we’re all taking advantage of the online shopping deals this season, so are the scammers. Online shopping scams are on the rise, and it’s more important than ever that Iowans stay vigilant. To avoid scams, we recommend that Iowans shop local, learn how to recognize the red flags of a scam, and contact our office.”
‘Tis the season’ to “Scrooge” the scammers by fiercely protecting your data and hard-earned money from criminals. Here are two suggestions to help you do so:

• Watch out for fake websites or apps that closely resemble a business or brand you are familiar with.
  Double-check the URL by looking for a lock icon and by making sure it starts with ‘https:’.
• Verify that you are on a trusted and secure Wi-Fi network. While it may be easy to click the “Buy” button from your phone or laptop, inputting your credit card information over public Wi-Fi could increase your chances of falling victim to scammers. Set up email or text alerts with your credit card company or bank, so you will be alerted quickly to all purchases, including fraudulent purchases.
  According to Carol Ehlers, a human sciences specialist in family wellbeing and finance with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, “The financial damage from identity theft and scams makes any deal costly.”
  Ehlers encourages consumers to take precautions to protect their identities while making online and credit card purchases.
• Avoid gift card scams that start with a call, text, email, or social media message persuading you to buy gift cards and hand over the card number and PIN codes. Scammers often use gift cards to defraud people of their money because they are just like cash – any misuse is hard to trace. Unlike credit cards, there typically is not any recourse for consumers when a gift card is stolen or used without authorization, so it is very hard to reverse the purchases or get a refund in these situations.
• Recognize scammer’s phishing emails that pretend to be delivery companies (UPS, FedEx) asking for personal information via email. Suspicious texts or emails can always be checked against the status of a package directly on the delivery company’s website.
  “This holiday season, make sure you are well-protected from consumer fraud,” said Ehlers. “Enroll in a ‘Stay Independent: Spot, Stop, and Avoid Fraud’ workshop from ISU Extension and Outreach to learn how to protect yourself and others from being a victim of fraud.”
  Ehlers said participants learn about common scams and warning signs and how to take action to protect against theft of money, property, or belongings.
  Learn more at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/stay-independent or for more information, Iowans can visit the Iowa Attorney General’s website at https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers. One final reminder – scams should be reported to the Consumer Protection Division at 888-777-4590.
  Free financial counseling is also available to all Iowa residents through ISU Extension and Outreach’s Human Sciences Specialists in Family Wellbeing and Finance. They can help revise budgets, prioritize spending, and link you to community resources. To schedule, contact Iowa Concern at 800-447-1985 and ask for free financial counseling.