The year 2020 has been challenging at best, and the holiday season will be different for most people this year. While gift cards have continued to grow in popularity as a quick and easy purchase for gift giving, they may turn out to be the go-to gift of the 2020 holiday season as shoppers seek to minimize their exposure in public places. But before you give (or receive) gift cards, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you follow these tips.

• Inspect gift cards before you buy. A gift card should have all its protective stickers in place. Report the card to the store if anything looks scratched off or damaged.

• When you buy, save the receipt. Keeping the gift card receipt can be helpful if you run into problems with the card.

• Treat gift cards like cash. Report a lost or stolen gift card to the card’s issuer immediately. Most card issuers have toll-free numbers you can find online to report a lost or stolen card. Depending on the card issuer, you may even be able to get some money back.

• Buy gift cards from sources you know and trust. Think twice about buying gift cards from online auction sites, to avoid buying fake or stolen cards.

• Read the gift card’s terms and conditions. Know the deal you’re getting with gift cards. For example, are there fees every time it gets used – or if it sits unused?

HOLIDAY GIFT CARD SHOPPING

December 2020

And here’s the most important gift card tip of all:• Remember that gift cards are for gifts, not payments. Gift cards are a scammer’s favorite way

to steal people’s money. Anyone who demands that you pay them with a gift card, for any reason, is always a scammer. This includes calls from imposters claiming to be a family member with an emergency, calls from the IRS and Social Security, law enforcement, and utility companies. Simply put, never pay with a gift card.

Report a suspected gift card scam directly to the card issuer, then report it to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or 1-800 FL-AYUDA (352-9832) en Español.

Financial fraud can happen to anyone at any time. While some forms of financial fraud, such as massive data breaches, are out of your control, there are many ways you can proactively reduce your exposure to financial scams and identity theft.

Here are some of the most common financial scams, along with ways to identify them early and how you can protect yourself.

Phishing

Using this common tactic, scammers send an email that appears to come from a financial institution, such as your bank, and asks you to click on a link to update your account information. If you receive any correspondence that asks for your information, never click on the links or provide account details. Instead, visit the company’s website, find official contact information, and call them to verify the request.

Be aware. A bank is never going to ask you for confidential information through an open source like email. Be skeptical of unexpected communication from a financial institution

Social Media Scams

Scammers are adept at using social media. Be conscious of what information you post online — especially upcoming vacations that leave your home unoccupied. Scammers use social media posts to gather information about the traveling habits of potential victims. Scammers also have social media phishing tactics, including posts seeking charity donations with bogus links which allow them to keep your money.

COMMON FINANCIAL SCAMS

Phone Scams

Another prevalent tactic is scamming phone calls. These scammers pose as a government agency, such as the Internal Revenue Service or local law enforcement agencies and use scare tactics to acquire your personal information and account numbers.

They may say you have overdue taxes or unpaid parking tickets, threaten you with jail time or additional fines, and then ask for your bank account information. Never provide your account information over the phone. Look up the agency’s contact information and call them to verify any request. Federal government agencies will never text or call you to ask for money.

Stolen Credit Card Numbers

There are numerous ways that scammers can obtain your credit card information, including hacking, phishing, and the use of skimming devices — small card readers attached to unmanned credit card readers, such as ATMs, gas pumps, and more. These small devices pull data from your card when you swipe it.

You can’t always prevent your debit or credit card information from being compromised, but you can take steps to minimize your risk.

Identity Theft

Depending on the amount of information a scammer can obtain, identity theft may extend beyond unauthorized charges on a debit or credit card. If scammers are able to obtain your Social Security number, date of birth, and other personal information, they may be able to open new accounts in your name without your knowledge. Be aware of information you share and with whom, and always shred sensitive information before disposing of it.

Monitor your credit activity regularly so you can catch errors as quickly as possible. You are eligible to receive your free credit report from each of the major credit reporting agencies every 12 months. Make sure to request your report from a reputable source and be wary of lookalike sites that charge a fee for the report.

By taking preventative measures and being aware of scams, you can minimize the risks of fraud. Monitoring your accounts daily can also help you see fraudulent charges quickly.

• Review your accounts. Check your credit card and banking accounts on a regular basis to ensure that there are no unauthorized charges. To help you catch fraudulent charges quickly, monitor your online or mobile banking accounts daily.

• Change your account passwords. Switch out your passwords on sensitive accounts frequently, and make sure not to use the same password for multiple accounts.

• Use online transactions with caution. When shopping online, always make sure you are using a secure internet connection and avoid using public Wi-Fi.

• Confirm all financial communication. Be wary of common scams such as phishing, a process in which scammers send emails posing as a bank and ask you to update or confirm your account information. Always contact your bank directly to ensure that your account information does not fall into the wrong hands. Also, remember that the IRS will never initiate contact with you via email, text, or social media to demand personal or financial information.

• Check your credit reports. At least once per year, check your credit report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to make sure all your information is up to date and all your accounts are accurate. You can access your free report each year from AnnualCreditReport.com but be cautious of lookalike sites that may charge unnecessary fees.

• Monitor your credit. You may also want to sign up for a credit monitoring service, which immediately alerts you to any activity relating to your credit history and accounts. This can be helpful in detecting suspicious inquiries or identity theft.

• Properly dispose of documents. If you are throwing away old bank statements or other paperwork with sensitive information such as account numbers, social security numbers, personal identification numbers, etc., make sure to shred everything before disposal.

• Visit the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) website at idtheftcenter.org. The ITRC is a non-profit organization established to empower and guide consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FINANCIAL SCAMS

by Colleen Tressler, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC

Scammers follow the headlines. They take advantage of what’s happening in the news to find new ways to get people to part with their money. During the COVID pandemic, cleaning supplies have been in high demand, but often in short supply. Scammers see that as opportunity knocking.

In early November 2020, the FTC announced a complaint against defendants who are using fake websites (with real product names in the web address) and real product images and logos of well-known brands like Clorox and Lysol — all to make people think they’re buying products from the companies’ official websites.

The FTC says that none of the sites are owned by, affiliated with, or authorized by the companies that make Clorox and Lysol, and that none of the people who paid for cleaning and disinfecting products from these sites got what they ordered.

The FTC is working to shut down the sites, stop the defendants from setting up future sites, and help people protect themselves against these kinds of scams.

Before you order from an unfamiliar online store, consider these tips to help avoid a scam:

• When trying to find items that you know are in high demand and short supply – like cleaning supplies or PPE in the middle of a pandemic – you need to be extra careful when buying online, especially if the seller is offering items that are generally out of stock elsewhere.

• Look at the terms of the sale. Calculate the total price, including taxes, shipping, and handling. Find out when you can expect your delivery. If you have to return the item, can you get a refund? Who pays for return shipping? Is there a restocking fee?

• Pay by credit card. You’ll get protections under federal law, so you don’t have to pay for merchandise you ordered but didn’t get.

• If you have a problem with an online purchase, try to work it out with the seller, but remember: you have the right to reverse an unauthorized or fraudulent charge directly with your credit card issuer by filing a chargeback dispute. And if you suspect a scam, report it to the FDACS at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or 1-800 FL-AYUDA (352-9832) en Español or the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

FAKE CLOROX AND LYSOL WEBSITES

Florida consumers who have a complaint about a business have an advocate in the FDACS. The Bureau of Mediation and Enforcement is responsible for processing consumer complaints, unless they are specifically regulated by another agency, and providing informal mediation services with the goal of reaching an amicable resolution between consumers and businesses.

What should consumers know about the complaint process?

1. All complaints are public record.

2. Complaints are entered into a database and assigned to a complaint analyst within three days of receipt. The complaint analyst will review for potential statutory violations. Statutory violations are referred to the Regulatory Investigative Section.

3. Complaints are addressed within 20 days (90% within 10 days).

4. A business has 30 days from notification to respond in writing regarding informal mediation efforts.

5. Complaints filed against a business regulated by another agency will be referred to the regulating agency for processing.

6. Consumers have direct contact with complaint analysts throughout the process.

Florida consumers are encouraged to visit the department’s File a Complaint page at FloridaConsumerHelp.com for more information.

FILING A CONSUMER COMPLAINT

“Your fast co-operation and fast attention brought quick response from the owners and management to our problem and I wanted to let you know it was greatly appreciated by my wife and I. You are a credit to your job and company.” L. Ryder

“…thank you so much for taking care of this mix-up. I’m glad it’s finally resolved…” B. Bixon

“I received all my money back minus the deposit which I’m grateful for your service.” K. Smith

“FYI…refund finally posted to my credit card. I know it would not have happened without your office’s assistance. Thank you so much!” T. Pinto-Sassman

“They returned my money, and I sent their product back. I am satisfied, except I was not getting any response until I copied you.” J. Thornthwaite

“Please be aware that my money was credited back to my credit card after you got involved. Your leverage made the difference…Thanks for your help.” J. Klein

Here’s what consumers had to say…

FDACS-P-00030 Rev. 12/2020

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The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints, protection and information. Consumers who would like information about filing a complaint against a business or who believe fraud has taken place can visit us online at FloridaConsumerHelp.com or contact the department’s consumer protection and information hotline by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832) for Spanish speakers.

Learn how to make food safety a priority this holiday season for yourself and your family. Visit the Division of Food Safety’s Consumer Resources and Outreach website to access free food

safety resources like information on safe internal cooking temperatures and food storage, food safety flyers, videos, coloring sheets, and more!

Serve food safely this holiday season and stay safe from foodborne illness!

STAY SAFE FROM FOODBORNE ILLNESS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON