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Story Created: Dec 1, 2009

Story Updated: Dec 1, 2009

Call 4 Action: Holiday Scams

Are you looking for a steal on a hard to find gift? 

Watch out. You could be targeted by a holiday scam artist.

What are some of the most common scams that you hear of this time of year?

In addition to fake charities, we also hear about people getting taken by
• offers for high demand items on online auctions sites
• unsolicited e-mails for great deals on hard to find products
• advertisements found in newspapers and magazines for merchandise that either does not show up or if it does, it is broken, poor quality, or not as shown in an ad.

How do you know if you are being targeted for a scam?

Watch out for deals that seem to be too good to be true.

A letter or e-mail is coming from out of the country. The letter or e-mail is vague, printed or displayed in poor quality, and is unsolicited.

What should people do if they feel that they are at risk for one of these scams?

Never release any personal information or money until you can check things out with a reputable source.

Also, use anti-spyware and virus protection.

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