HOUSTON — Returning holiday gifts can be a hassle, but some scammers are out there trying to steal from you in the process. Calling customer service may sound like a good option, just be careful who you call.
“If you go to your web browser and type in customer support for “x company,” it’s common that those first ones that come up on the list are entirely fraudulent,” Kathy Stokes, director of Fraud Prevention for AAR, said.
According to a recent AARP survey of shoppers 18 and up, 80% of US consumers have been targeted by scams tied to the holidays.
“If someone steals money from your account because you thought you were talking to tech support, and you gave them access to your computer and thus your financial accounts and drain them, and you call your bank and say, and the bank, unfortunately, is going to say you are a party to that transaction,” Stokes said.
There are ways to protect yourself:
- Know the return policy and double-check the number you are calling
- Never give out your login information
- Online retailers will not request your login to provide customer support
“If money has been stolen from you, in one of these ways it is a crime and you should report it to police,” Stokes said. “We are underreporting this and as long as we continue to do that we are going to have a hard time getting policymakers to try and do something else about this, to try and get law enforcement more involved in going after the bad guys.”
If you have been a victim of fraud, file a report with your local law enforcement agency and the Better Business Bureau.
If you have a problem and need help, email GraceCanHelp@khou.com, call (713) 521-HELP or fill out the form below.