TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis encourages consumers to be aware of potential scams during the holiday shopping weekend.
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Officials expect shoppers to spend $130 billion from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday. Patronis said Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the year’s biggest shopping days, making it a prime time for scammers to take advantage of them.
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However, knowing the signs of a scam can prevent fraud.
“This is a great time of year to shop, but it is also the time to be alert,” Patronis said.
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Here are nine tips to protect from Thanksgiving holiday scams:
- If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Be wary of the “ultimate bargain.”
- Use a credit card instead of cash or debit for consumer protection.
- Be careful of credit and coupon offers.
- Watch your account balances and monitor suspicious activity.
- Keep your receipts and understand stores’ return policies.
- When purchasing gift cards, make sure to check if there is a fee and give the activation receipt to the recipient.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau if other customers have filed complaints against the retailer.
- Some retailers offer layaway plans or other payment options so you can pay for items in installments or later. See if there is a fee and what you can do if the purchase is canceled or returned.
- Research before donating to a charity. Websites like FDACS.gov/ConsumerServices, Guidestar.org and CharityNavigator.org are good resources.
Read: Spending slowdown expected this Black Friday weekend
Click here to learn more about common scams and report fraud.
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