Holiday shopping scams to avoid this winter

(NewsNation) — Consumers are susceptible to scammers any time of the year, but increased shopping around the holidays means people should exercise extra caution, says Visa's 2024 threat report.

The findings, published yearly, lay out what fraudsters have up their sleeves each giving season — whether it's swiping your information card on fishy websites or physically stealing from you in person.

Here's what to keep an eye out for while you check off your shopping list.

Online shopping safety tips

• Don't shop on public Wi-Fi
• Shop only on encrypted websites
• Use unique, secure passwords for store logins
• Use credit cards, not debit cards

Fake shopping websites

The report warns of fake sellers advertising popular or pricey items at a hefty discount. Oftentimes, Visa says, there is no item ever on its way to you — instead, the faux sites have stolen your payment data and personal information.

One best practice is to only shop on encrypted websites, which means the URLs begin with "https" rather than "http."

Fake delivery and shipping scams

Waiting on a plethora of present-related notifications? Don't assume all emails and texts you get are legitimate.

If you get a message that seems suspicious and has a link leading you to track your shipping or delivery, instead go to the retailer's site and check your order progress there.

Don't click any message that requires you to pay new shipping fees, the BBB recommends. Instead, go directly to the original text or email confirmation of your order to double-check that you owe nothing.

Free gift card scams

Though a free gift card may sound merry and bright, this common holiday scam is anything but. Scammers send phishing emails en masse asking for personal information in exchange for free gift cards.

Sometimes, the emails will imitate legitimate companies sending gift cards to reward loyal customers.

"If you have received an unsolicited email with gift card offers, do not open it. Instead, mark it as spam or junk and delete it. However, if you opened the email, do not click on any links," the Better Business Bureau recommends.

Charity scams

As the year ends, many try to give back via charitable donations. But donors should be careful when they're deciding where to donate, as some charities aren't as real as they may seem.

The BBB and Visa recommend verifying the charity's status through BBB's Give.org.

Physical theft

Visa warns against leaving your bags unattended, as thieves are more likely to swipe your card or belongings when shopping centers are crowded with other customers.

"Scammers also steal card data by targeting ATMs and POS terminals with skimming attacks due to increased shopping," the report says.