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Armed with new polling results, AARP Michigan is urging consumers not to get stung by con artists during the upcoming holiday giving season.
A new survey found that 66 percent of Michigan consumers failed a quiz about how to stay safe from common holiday scams and many are regularly engaging in risky behaviors which could leave them at risk of being victimized by con artists.
AARP Michigan spokesperson Mark Hornbeck says identity theft and draining bank accounts are the most common scams. He says some involve charities which are legally allowed to take a large percentage of the donations, but only if you ask how the money will be used.
Hornbeck also urges consumers to purchase gift cards online, instead of from store racks since thieves can easily grab the number from the card when it is in the store, and drain the funds later when the card is activated.
Shoppers can also protect themselves from theft by using a debit card instead of a credit card and not using public Wi-Fi.
Consumers can check with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to see if a specific charity is legitimate or not.
