Prince Edward County OPP is reminding the public that while the holidays are a time of giving for most, for scammers, it is a time of taking.
Police say with it being such a busy time of year for many of us, we may not have the time or energy to be hypervigilant about seasonal swindles.
Some popular holiday scams to be aware of:
· Counterfeit merchandise
· Charity scams
· Fraudulent gift cards
· Fake Secret Santa
· Shipping frauds
· Fake online shopping links
OPP are offering these tips to protect yourself:
· Be careful of clicking on an unsolicited text or email.
· Research the charity to ensure you are donating to a legitimate cause.
· If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
· Stay away from public wifi when shopping.
· Be skeptical of product reviews and testimonials.
· Fraudsters will impersonate legitimate shipping companies; keep track of packages you are expecting.
Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for more information. Anyone who has lost money because of a fraud is encouraged to report it to police at 1-888-310-1122.
