Episode•December 27, 2022•8 min

Tiffany's Take: Fraud Tips | Ep. 184

Every Tuesday, Tiffany answers one of your submitted questions. To submit a question for an upcoming episode, visit here: https://www.moneytalkwitht.com/asktiffany. Connect with Tiffany on Social Media Facebook: Money Talk With Tiff Twitter: @moneytalkwitht Instagram: @moneytalkwitht LinkedIn: Tiffany Grant This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

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Key Takeaways

1
Research charities thoroughly before donating during the holidays
Use watchdog sites like Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance
Verify legitimacy to ensure donations reach intended causes
Fraudsters often exploit holiday giving season
2
Never click links in emails, texts, or ads for online purchases
Type website addresses directly into your browser instead
Fraudsters use fake links via text, email, and Facebook ads
This protects against phishing and fraudulent sites
3
Never share login credentials with anyone claiming to be a retailer
Legitimate retailers will never request login info via unsolicited contact
Watch for fake Amazon, UPS, and USPS messages
Always go directly to official websites to check account issues
4
Use credit cards over debit cards for online purchases when possible
Credit cards offer stronger consumer protections
Easier to dispute charges and recover funds if fraud occurs
Only recommended if you have discipline to pay off monthly
5
Exercise caution with peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle
Best used only with trusted contacts
Scammers often rush transactions to avoid platform protections
Prefer in-app messaging for marketplace transactions to maintain protection

Intro

In this Tiffany's Take episode, Tiffany shares essential fraud prevention tips for the holiday shopping and giving season, sourced from AARP Fraud Watch Network.
Tiffany Grant is a financial coach and host of the Money Talk with Tiff podcast, providing practical money advice every Tuesday through listener-submitted questions.

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– Holiday Fraud Season Warning

Tiffany introduces the episode focused on fraud prevention during the holiday period between Thanksgiving and the new year, when scammers are most active.

– Charity Donation Research

Before donating to charities, verify legitimacy using watchdog organizations to ensure funds reach intended causes.

Charity Navigator
Charity Watch
Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance

– Safe Online Shopping Practices

Avoid clicking links in emails, texts, or ads. Always type website addresses directly into your browser to prevent phishing attacks.

If you see something that you want to purchase... don't click on the link in the text or in the email. Just go ahead and go straight to the site and do it directly.
– Tiffany Grant

– Protecting Login Credentials

Retailers will never contact you requesting login information. Be wary of fake messages from Amazon, UPS, and USPS claiming package or account issues.

– Peer-to-Peer Payment Safety

Use Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle only with trusted contacts. Tiffany shares a personal story of a Facebook Marketplace scam attempt where the buyer rushed to move off-platform.

I would prefer to do business through here. So that way I am protected if things go south.
– Tiffany Grant

– Shipping Notification Scams

Don't engage with texts claiming shipment delays. Always connect directly with retailers or carriers through official websites rather than clicking links.

– Credit Card vs. Debit Card Protections

When possible, use credit cards for purchases due to stronger consumer protections. Debit cards can make recovering funds more difficult if fraud occurs.

Credit cards are actually the best thing to use instead of a debit card because they have more consumer protections than other forms of payment.
– Tiffany Grant

– Device Security Maintenance

Keep devices and antivirus software updated. Enable automatic updates to protect against the latest threats without manual intervention.

Resources

Topics

fraud preventionholiday shoppingcharity donationsonline securitypeer-to-peer paymentscredit card safetyphishing scamsconsumer protectionfinancial tipsAARP