New York Attorney General Letitia James issued an alert to New Yorkers urging them to remain vigilant against potential scams while shopping during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Cyber criminals take advantage of the holiday season to increase phishing attempts, scams, and other fraudulent activity targeting consumers. Attorney General James urges all New Yorkers to take caution while shopping online and report potential frauds to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
“The holidays should be a joyful time for New Yorkers to connect with loved ones, support local businesses, and give back to their communities,” James said. “Unfortunately, scammers often take advantage of this time of year to ramp up their frauds. As New Yorkers begin their holiday shopping, I urge everyone to take caution to protect themselves and their personal information.”
To help New York consumers protect themselves, Attorney General James issued the following tips for shopping during the holiday season:
- Be cautious while shopping online
- Stick to reputable retailers and always verify website URLs before entering payment details.
- When buying items from a website, make sure the company has an operating customer service number, lists an actual street address of its business, and has a record of satisfactory service. A company trying to scam consumers is more likely than legitimate companies to have no working telephone number or to list only a post office box as its address.
- Carefully review all the charges that may apply. Many “bargain” websites make up the difference with hefty fees (such as delivery, processing, or subscription fees). Some companies increase these fees around the holidays.
- Be cautious of emails with subject lines like “Exclusive Holiday Deals” or “Free Gift Cards.” These are often phishing attempts.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi when making online purchases. Your home network is much safer.
- If you receive unexpected holiday e-cards or invitations, verify the sender before opening links or attachments.
- Secure your devices to protect your personal information
- Change your Wi-Fi password if it hasn’t been updated in a while.
- Install the latest security updates on your phones, tablets, and computers.
- Ensure antivirus software is active and up to date to protect against malware.
- Protect yourself after you buy
- Save verifications and receipts from online retailers for future access. If you have not received the product when promised, reach out to the company in a firm but polite inquiry. If the company does not respond to your requests, you can file an online complaint with OAG or by phone at 1-800-771-7755.
- Always review your monthly credit card and bank statements carefully for unauthorized charges. Scam artists often take advantage of the increase in purchases during the holidays, expecting that phony charges will go unnoticed or uncorrected for a longer period of time.
- If you believe you have been charged for an item that you did not authorize or have not received in a reasonable amount of time, report this to your credit card company as soon as possible.
Any New Yorker who suspects that they are a victim of a scam is encouraged to report it to OAG by submitting a complaint online or calling 1-800-771-7755.