MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – As Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just days away, the Michigan State Police is suggesting ways to stay safe and aware of online scams.
During the holiday season, scammers will take advantage of this time of giving, requesting high amounts of money. Although the elderly are more susceptible to these scams, anyone can be a target in their attempts.
Common signs of a scam include:
- Urgent requests for money or personal information.
- Requests for gift cards, money orders, or wire transfers as means of payment.
- Misspelled or suspicious website addresses.
- Poor grammar or strange formatting.
- Claims of unexpected prizes or winnings.
- Browser warnings about insecure connections.
How to protect yourself:
- Use secure payment methods. Avoid wire transfers, money orders, or sending gift cards.
- Keep account and credit card information private.
- Avoid entering sensitive information on public devices.
- Keep your devices, browsers, and security software current with the latest updates.
- When shopping online, use trusted retailers that have good reviews.
- Whenever possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card when shopping online.
- If you get a suspicious email or text, do not reply or cooperate with the sender.
The MSP says these scams are easily avoidable if a second opinion can be given on whether or not to trust who’s on the other end.
“If you receive a text, or are maybe thinking about a purchase on a website that just seems like a crazy good deal, we just really recommend to pause and think, ‘could this be a scam?’, explained 8th District Public Information Officer, Lt. Ben Eckola. “Reach out to somebody, a loved one or your bank, and talk to them before sending any money.”
The MSP also offers courses from Community Service Troopers for any organization interested in learning more about avoiding online scams.
