If you’re doing that last-minute holiday shopping on the Internet, beware of scam websites, advises the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota. Spokesman Dan Hendrickson says one red flag is sites offering extraordinary deals: “Unbelievable prices and things that seem too good to be true, and of course they are too good to be true. They’re just websites thrown up to catch customer credit card numbers and defraud them.”
And with large numbers of shipments being delivered from Internet orders, another crime that’s become more common is package thefts from people’s doorsteps. Hendrickson says, “Try to make sure that your neighbors are looking out for you, you’re looking out for them, or get the delivery when you know you’re gonna be at home.” Another scam, says Hendrickson, is fake delivery notifications by e-mail. Open one and your computer could be infected with a virus.
The full interview with more tips to avoid holiday scams: