Beware of fake notifications, websites and gift exchange scams

If only the spirit of the season could somehow change the hearts of all those Scroogey scammers out there. Unfortunately, they never quit.

The Better Business Bureau therefore finds it necessary at this time of year to remind consumers of the many scams that haunt us through the holidays.

So we are continuing our countdown this week with numbers 6, 5 and 4.

Scam no. 6: Fake shipping notifications

Shopping online is now a mainstay for many holiday gift givers, and that makes them vulnerable to scammers who send out phony shipping notifications.

The e-mails will contain a link claiming to allow you to track your Federal Express package or to download a “confirmation form,” in the case of a United States Postal Service scam.

Clicking on the link will instead download malware onto your device that can track your keystrokes and reveal sensitive information about your accounts to scammers.

Remember to never click on links in unexpected e-mails or text messages. If you wonder about the legitimacy of a notification, go to the website of the shipper and look up your shipment from there, unless the retailer itself has provided you with a tracking number.

Keep in mind, as well, that it is easy to make an e-mail appear to be legitimate with fake company logos and graphics. That brings us to …

Scam no. 5: Lookalike websites

Scammers sometimes fake retailer websites as well as government agency websites.

The Social Security Administration has had to warn about “Twitter handles, Facebook pages, websites and apps that look official but aren’t connected to the agency.”

Some of these sites are outright scams designed only to steal your personal information. As soon as these sites and accounts are suspended, others crop up to take their place.

Instead of trusting that a source is a legitimate government agency website, look to see whether it has .gov as the domain at the end of the web address.

Fake retailer websites are designed to trick you into making a “purchase” from them in which you give your credit card information. Protect yourself by relying on these tips:

▪ Keep your software updated. Their security functions can help spot fake websites. Be sure all security functions are enabled in your browser.

▪ Look for the padlock. The padlock symbol next to the address is a guarantee of security and encryption. Any legitimate major retailer will have this symbol on their address.

▪ Look carefully for misspelled words or grammatical errors, which are a tip-off to some cheap rip-off sites.

▪ Research the site and see what others are saying online about it.

▪ Trust your instinct: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Scam no. 4: Social media gift exchange

As old as the pyramids is this pyramid scheme, dressed up as a modern social media idea.

It’s popular on Facebook and Instagram, among others, and here’s how this scam works:

You’re invited by a friend on social media to join a gift exchange where you buy a $10 gift for a stranger. In return, you are supposed to receive 36 gifts back, once your name reaches the top of the list. There may even be postings of photos of gifts that others have received in the mail.

The idea relies on constantly recruiting new participants, and therefore the mathematical possibilities make it impossible to sustain. In addition to being rip-offs, these hoaxes are actually illegal in the U.S. and Canada.

Keep these tips in mind:

▪ If it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

▪ Remember that friends’ accounts can be hacked and the post that appears to be from a friend may just be from a scammer.

▪ Report such scams to Facebook or Instagram immediately.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Beware of fake notifications, websites and gift exchange scams."