Don't Let Thieves and Con Artists Ruin Your Holidays
Unfortunately, not everyone is filled with the spirit of peace and good
will at this time of year. The holidays are peak season for criminals. The
Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants recommends a number of steps
you can take to avoid falling prey to their schemes.
Hold on to your wallet
Crowded stores and distracted shoppers are a boon to pickpockets, so try to
limit the cash you carry so you don’t have much to lose. Keep your wallet in
a zipped bag, a front pocket, or in a back pocket that buttons.
When you take out a credit card for use, monitor its whereabouts during
the transaction and put it safely back in your wallet. If your card is lost,
report it to the card issuer immediately. And if you use your debit card at
an ATM or in a store, be careful that others don’t view your personal
identification number.
Guard against identity theft
Protecting your credit card is important because the loss of any
identification could leave you open to identity theft, in which scammers use
your personal information to make purchases in your name that they don’t
intend to pay for. As a result, it’s not a good idea to carry essential ID
such as a Social Security card in your wallet when you’re shopping in
crowded stores. Take care to hold on to the receipts you receive for
purchases or from an ATM, since they may contain personal financial
information about your accounts that thieves can use.
Protect your packages
Always keep an eye on your shopping bags. If you rest them on the ground,
place them in front of you so they can’t be grabbed when you’re not looking.
If you leave packages in your car, put them in the trunk or make sure they
are out of sight so thieves are not tempted to break in.
Look out for online scams
Never provide your credit card or other personal information in response to
an e-mail. If you do, you could fall victim to popular schemes like this
one: A consumer makes a purchase from a large Internet retailer, then
receives an e-mail notice purportedly from that retailer asking them to
click on a link and re-enter their financial information. Don’t do it,
because there’s a good chance the sender is a con artist looking to steal
your personal data. Close out the email and call the retailer’s customer
service number to find out if the notice is legitimate.
Check out charities
Many scammers create bogus “charities” at this time of year to take
advantage of people’s holiday generosity. Last year, for example, many phony
groups sprouted up pretending to be collecting money for veterans or those
currently serving in the military.
To guard against being scammed, it’s best to know the charity you are
considering donating to. As a result, you shouldn’t give money to anyone
soliciting door-to-door, by telephone, or via e-mail. Instead, ask for
written information about the charity before you donate and see how
donations are used. You can also check Web sites such as
www.give.org or
www.charitynavigator.org
to verify the group’s authenticity.
Turn to you CPA for answers
Looking for more information to avoid thieves or scammers during the
holidays? CPAs are experienced financial advisers who can advise you on
smart steps to safeguard your finances and financial information.
Access “Find a CPA.”
