Stay Alert for Online Holiday Shopping Scams

Harrisburg, PA- With the 2024 holiday season fast approaching, AARP Pennsylvania warns consumers to stay alert as scammers ramp up their efforts during the surge in online shopping.

Scammers often use fake websites and social media to impersonate major brands. Known as “spoofing” sites, these phony advertisements and websites entice individuals to provide credit card numbers for products they will never receive.

Watch AARP Pennsylvania’s Fraud Watch Alerts on Youtube.

“Once scammers have your credit card information, they will commit identity theft and use your information to make online purchases or sell your information on the dark web,” said Mary Bach, AARP Pennsylvania Volunteer and Chair of the Consumer Issues Task Force.

Fraud involving drained gift cards also increases during the holiday shopping season. Scammers remove gift cards from display racks and record the numbers associated with the cards, including the activation PINs. They may even scratch off the cards’ security codes and place them back on the store racks and use the cards’ numbers to complete online purchases, thereby draining the cards of their value. Worthless gift cards are then sold to unsuspecting consumers.

“Ultimately, the point here isn’t to take the joy out of this time of year or take the fun out of gift-giving, but to help consumers be aware so they can protect themselves and their loved ones,” said David Kalinoski, AARP Pennsylvania Associate State Director. “This holiday season, serve your holiday cheer with a side of skepticism to help stay safe from increasingly sophisticated scammers.”

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Pennsylvania Fraud Resource Page at aarp.org/pafraud.

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AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.