Be vigilant against scams this holiday season

By U.S. Sen. John Boozman
R-Arkansas

It is the season of giving but, unfortunately, it is also open season for criminals who take advantage of kindness and generosity. So, as you plan your shopping and end-of-year gifts, it is important to do your homework, make sure websites are legitimate and think about why an online person or entity might be asking you for money. 

Of course, scams are a problem throughout the year and my office regularly uncovers cases where folks are being misled by a crook.

One example we’ve heard many times over the years involves a supposed friend – often called a fiancé – who is stuck outside the country. Their taxi got into a car accident on the way to the airport. They are in the hospital. They missed a flight and can’t afford a new ticket. Their employer cut off their paycheck and now their bank in the U.S. froze their account. They are estranged from their family and don’t know their neighbors, so this alleged “friend” convinces someone they’ve met on social media to send them money. 

The problem is, it’s all a lie. This piling-on of impossible coincidences with only one solution is a deceptive tactic criminals often use, which means it is important to be vigilant and use a healthy amount of skepticism when people approach us for money, especially online.

It can be hard to tell what is real and what is fake when bad actors hack into or impersonate a real person’s social media account. This is increasingly common. In fact, fake accounts have been created in my name on several occasions. Fortunately, sharp-eyed constituents have called my office to find out if it was really me, and our team alerted authorities to remove the scam accounts. But it underscored for me and my family how easy it is for criminals to use the names of people and businesses we trust to manipulate unsuspecting victims. 

Sadly, older Americans are frequently the target of these ploys. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) tracks and investigates online crime and reports a few of the most recurring types of fraud involving the elderly include themes around romance, tech support, help for grandchildren and home repair. In 2023 alone, total losses reported to the IC3 by people over 60 topped $3.4 billion.  

But it is important to recognize that senior Americans are not the only ones scammers prey on, especially during the holidays. We must all pay attention to warning signs to make sure we are buying from legitimate websites and giving to real charities. The FBI offers tips and resources for buying and donating on the IC3 website (www.ic3.gov), as does the Federal Trade Commission (www.consumer.ftc.gov/scams), to make sure our money goes to real people and not in the pocket of thieves.  

If you’ve been the victim of a scam, you can report the crime to these resources and local authorities. In addition, the Arkansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division has helpful information about the most common scams circulating in our state and information on how to protect yourself.

Let’s all do our part to safeguard ourselves and our family and friends during the holidays and year-round.