AARP Virginia offers tips to help avoid holiday-season fraud

The holidays offer plenty of opportunities for scammers. But, with a little vigilance and preparation, Virginians can cut down on the threat of becoming a victim. That’s according to Natalie Snider, of “A-A-R-P Virginia”… “Many seasonal scams involve bogus websites or mobile-apps. In fact, some fake ‘e-stores’ even mimic trusted retailers—with familiar logos and slogans, plus a Web-address that’s easily mistaken for the real thing. They offer popular items at a fraction of the usual cost, and promise perks like free shipping and overnight delivery—exploiting the premium that online shoppers put on both price and speed. That’s why it’s important to remember that ads, e-mails, and social-media posts about impossibly good deals could be scams—and should immediately send up a red flag. When it comes to fraud, vigilance is Virginians’ number-one weapon.” If you believe that you’ve fallen victim to a scam this holiday-season—and for more tips—Snider recommends visiting “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“fraud-watch-network”, or calling 1-877-908-3360.