Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) – Love is in the air, and unfortunately, so are scams! Valentine’s Day is a prime target for thieves looking to get ahold of your information; guards are down, secret admirers abound and gifts are being sent to loved ones far and near.
Scouring the Internet, we’ve compiled the most common Valentine’s Day scams to help you and your loved ones stay safe this February.
Bogus Gift Cards – Sometimes finding the perfect gift for that special someone comes down to letting them decide. A gift card is a popular Valentine’s gift, and scammers are fully aware of that. Scammers use social media to offer gift cards from well-known retailers at a discounted price. Victims enter their information on these bogus sites, giving criminals all the information they need to steal. The worst part of this scam, however, is that well-meaning victims share the posts on their social media to friends and family so they can “get in on the great deal”.
How to Avoid – Don’t purchase gift cards from pop-up ads, social media ads or from any website other than a trusted retailer. In general, it’s better to purchase directly from that retailer; if there are any issues with the card, even legitimate cards, the company who issued the card is responsible for fixing the issue. You may accidentally give your sweetheart a headache for Valentine’s Day if they must track down from where you purchased the card.
Not Quite the Right Store – If you’ve purchased something from a retailer in the past, they may have your email address on file to send out promotions. Around Valentine’s Day, you’ll notice your inbox flood with deals, but be wary of what you open. Look out for minor typos in the web address and body of the email. For example, instead of www.shaneco.com it may say www.shanecompany.com. Close but still not right. The other red flag may be in the sender’s email address. For example, instead of potterybarn@mail.potterybarn.com it may say potterybarn@hotmail.com. If it’s from a legitimate retailer’s website, it will contain that purchased domain in the email address.
How to Avoid – Hover the cursor of your mouse over the links in the email without clicking them; this will let you see the entire web address it will redirect you to. If it’s not a legitimate site, don’t click it! Clicking the link could release malware in your computer that can cause damage and steal information. On the other side, it could take you to a dummy site designed to trick you into giving over your information. When in doubt, don’t click! If you see a deal that you want to learn more about, go to that retailer’s actual website using your address bar. If the deal is real, you’ll find information about it there.
The Unbelievable Get – There’s usually a “most-desired” gift your sweetheart would love to have for Valentine’s Day, and those gifts tend to be a popular gift among many that year. Those are popular scams among thieves, too. They look for the most searched items on the Internet around Valentine’s Day, including wedding and engagement rings. These scammers build fake websites containing the most desired items for sale at incredible discounts. Once you’ve given your credit card information to them, though, it’s all over.
How to Avoid – Make sure your computer has the latest malware and anti-virus protection from a reputable company. Be suspicious of sites that want you to make a purchase through and unsecured URL. Reputable sites that want to ensure your financial safety lock down their pages when they ask for your credit information. Better to be safe than sorry—stick to retailers you know and trust. If they can’t offer a crazy discount like this one-off company, there is probably a reason. Trying to save a few dollars on a gift isn’t worth what you could lose to a scammer.
Fake E-Cards – Your email inbox may be full of more than ads around Valentine’s Day; e-cards have risen in popularity over the years, and many are sent around Valentine’s Day. However, opening a fake e-card is one of the easiest ways to invite malware into your computer.
How to Avoid – Don’t click links or download any software to view the card. More than likely, this is a trick to unleash malware onto your computer. Most legitimate e-card companies send a confirmation code that allows you to open the card at the company website. It’s best to avoid messages sent by strangers or if they have a title like “friend” or “secret admirer”.
Credit Card Error – A popular phishing trick plays on the probability that you’ve sent flowers or a gift to someone. You receive an email warning you that the transaction cannot be completed because of an error with your credit card. The email redirects you to a spoof site where you re-enter your credit card details. While it may seem hit or miss, crooks send these emails out by the thousands, and it has been known to trick several people.
How to Avoid – If you’ve purchased a gift online and received a confirmation email, you’re done! Only you and the company can cancel that transaction, and the company will notify you that they have canceled the purchase. A reputable company will never make you re-purchase an item, especially through an email. If you’re concerned, check your bank statement. If the total has gone through, you’re most likely fine. You probably were sent tracking information at the time of purchase, as well, and a quick check on the retailer’s website will assure you everything is on track.
Bogus Package – A scam becoming more popular involves a delivery man. The delivery man comes to your door with some sort of wonderful Valentine’s gift, and he tells you he’s a third-party delivery system, so he doesn’t know the sender. Because he is a third-party delivery person, he just needs you to pay the delivery fee on your credit card. He scans your card, gives you the gift, and walks away having downloaded the data on your card.
How to Avoid – Delivery personnel will probably ask you to show your ID, and they may hope for a tip, but they should not be scanning your credit card. If your suspicious, always insist on paying in cash (delivery fees should be no more than a few dollars), and if something seems off, send him on his way. Besides, any secret admirer who expects you to pay a fee for your Valentine's gift isn't worth your time, honey.