FBI issues warnings about holiday shopping scams – Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee

Along: Genstair, Nexstar Media Wire

Posted: Posted December 14, 2021 / 05:51 AM CST

Has been updated: December 14, 2021 / 05:51 AM CST

Cleveland (WJW) – The FBI warns about fraud during this holiday shopping season.

The FBI said the most common scams are non-payment of goods that the victim has never received and non-payment that the victim provides services and products but does not receive money in return.

If you suspect you are a victim of fraud, contact your bank or credit union, and local police.You can also file a complaint FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center..

The FBI provides the following tips:

• Protect all financial accounts with strong passwords or passphrases. The FBI recommends that you use different passwords for each financial account and use multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
• Buy directly from a safe and reputable website. Avoid unfamiliar sites, especially if you are offering unrealistic discounts on branded products.
• As always, if the deal looks too good to be true, it’s probably true.
• Please check the legitimacy of the buyer or seller before making a purchase. If you are using an online marketplace or auction website, check their feedback ratings. Beware of buyers and sellers who have a lot of unfavorable ratings or no ratings at all.
• Credit cards provide some layer of security against fraud and are usually the safest way to shop online.
• Skip sellers and websites that require payment by gift card only. This is the main danger signal for fraud.
• Also, be aware of sellers who insist that shoppers pay in cryptocurrencies or wire transfers. This is a quick way to receive and deposit funds in a bank with little reliance on fraudulent shoppers.
• Check your bank and credit card statements regularly, including after making an online purchase or during the weeks after your vacation.
• Never tell anyone who does not know your personal information such as your date of birth or social security number.