»Tech Safe Tips for the Holidays
Published December, 2024
The holiday season is a time of charity and gift giving. It’s also a prime time for online scams. Our new Tech Safe program is designed to support technologically inexperienced seniors with group and one-on-one support with their devices, to better understand technology, their personal devices and how to avoid being subject to scams or financial exploitation.
Verify Website URL Addresses: When shopping online, check the website URL in the address bar at the top, and ensure it begins with "https" and includes a padlock icon. This indicates a secure connection, which helps ensure that any data you enter, like payment information, is encrypted and harder for scammers to intercept. By independently typing the retailer’s URL into your browser instead of clicking links in emails or ads, you avoid the risk of being redirected to a convincing but fraudulent site.
Be Wary of “Too Good To Be True” Deals: Scammers thrive on impulsive behaviour and quick decision-making to get that ‘great deal’. Slow down and take the time to evaluate the deal, check the website and verify the legitimacy of the retailer. If you are not sure, don’t share your credit card and personal information.
Use Secure Payment Methods: Credit cards allow consumers to dispute unauthorized charges and often provide fraud monitoring services, gift cards and wire transfers do not.
Verify Charities Before Donating: Fraudsters can exploit the goodwill of the season by creating organizations that mimic legitimate ones, often with names or logos that look authentic. If you are not fully familiar with the charity, look into them through avenues like the Better Business Bureau to ensure that your contributions are going to a legitimate charity.
Monitor the Shipping Process: If you are purchasing online, request and use tracking numbers.
Gift Card Scams: In this scam, fraudsters impersonate charities, retailers, or even trusted acquaintances, asking victims to purchase gift cards and share the card numbers and PINs. They may pose as a charitable organization soliciting donations for holiday meals or gifts for children. Alternatively, a fraudster could impersonate a retailer, claiming that a gift card is the only accepted form of payment for a time-sensitive deal. Do not share gift card numbers and PINS with anyone.