Don’t fall prey to Christmas scammers

As we check off items on that holiday gift list, the Better Business Bureau advises us to stay alert during the holiday season to avoid falling prey to scammers poised to pounce on careless or overburdened shoppers. Watch out for these five common scams at the mall, online or even in your email. When shopping online keep a lookout for prices that are too good to be true. Also, before entering our personal or financial information, confirm that the company has a physical address and phone number, and make sure that there is an https at the beginning of the URL. Whenever possible purchase from local sellers, and conduct transactions in person at a public location. Never wire money as payment. When shopping at a brick and mortar location, keep a close eye on your wallet and protect your debit and credit card numbers. Make sure you put your card back in your wallet after each purchase.