Wisconsin authorities warning residents about holiday shopping theft, scams

RACINE, Wis. (WFRV) – As the holiday season approaches, people will be out shopping for gifts as they try to find the perfect match for friends and family.

However, while online shopping has become the way to go, scammers are running amok and look to exploit those who aren't taking precautionary steps.

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The Racine County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook , mentioning that nearly $400 million was lost as a result of 2022 online shopping scams, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Some of the most common scams listed are as follows:

Fraudulent Social Media Ads

In 2020, 40% of the online shopping scams that were reported came from Facebook and Instagram. From 2022 to 2023, the number of reports regarding social media scam engagements soared over 63%, according to the Better Business Bureau.

The scams were often perpetuated with popups, and led shoppers to buy knockoff goods and sometimes never receive the product at all.

Fake Online Stores/Apps

Scammers often create fake websites that let popular retail sites steal information, whether it be personal or financial. Downloading or browsing these sites often leads to malware that can either compromise data or lock devices until you are forced to pay money.

Online Marketplace Scams

Fraudulent sellers will often prey on those who surf Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. These schemes can vary, from requesting upfront payments through Zelle or Venmo.

Some buyers will also send a fake check for more money than agreed upon, and then they may request the difference, leading to the risk of losing the item and being out of the money you sent with a fraudulent check.

Package Delivery Scams

Scammers will often send messages claiming to have delivered a package, or claiming that they require personal info to drop off a parcel.

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Many steps can be taken to prevent yourself from falling victim to scams like these.

'Too good to be true' deals are probably scams

Stick with trusted retailers, double-check URLs and research any unknown companies along with the terms 'scam' and 'complaint'

Never shop on public WiFi or networks with widely shared passwords

Be alert if ads take you to unfamiliar sites

Pay with credit cards, they're more protected against scams if you need refund from fraudulent purchases

NEVER give out sensitive information

Do not let unknown third parties access your computer remotely

Doing due diligence can be a major point in protecting you from being impacted by scams.