METEOR: This unlikely occurrence happened on this day 63 years ago: “In 1954, Ann Elizabeth Hodges of Oak Grove, Alabama, was slightly injured when an 8-1/2-pound chunk of meteor crashed through the roof of her house, hit a radio cabinet, then struck her as she lay napping on a couch.”
That flashback was courtesy of the Associated Press.
SCAMS: It’s the time of year when people should be on their most generous behavior, but there are many out there willing to take advantage of spirited Christmas shoppers to make an extra buck.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro is reminding to watch out for scams. According to Shapiro, deceptive advertising and online scams “get more sophisticated every year.”
He shared these swindles that shoppers should watch out for during the 2018 holiday season:
• “Cybersquatting” Sites: Crooks try to impersonate well-known websites by inverting characters or slightly altering the name of a well-known website. The copycat sites may look similar to the real website – and they can steal your credit information. Carefully read website addresses to ensure you are shopping on a legitimate website.
• Copycat and Fraudulent Websites: Fake websites set up by scammers target online shoppers during the holiday season. Sometimes appearing as ad results in online searches, these sites may contain malware or steal inputted credit card data. Avoid making purchases from untrustworthy sites.
• Security Certificates: To ensure you are shopping on a secure website, make sure the website begins with “https” and has a small padlock icon next to the webpage address. Keep your computer, tablet or smartphone up-to-date and install security software.
• Retailers Who Request Payment through Wire Transfer: Legitimate online businesses will not use wire transfer to collect payment for purchases. This is a sure sign of a scam.
If you think you may have been a victim of a holiday scam, you may file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Protection at 800-441-2555 or scams@attorneygeneral.gov. Sign up for scam alerts at www.attorneygeneral.gov./Sign_Up_for_Alerts.aspx.
