Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – WEDnESDAy, DECEmbEr 24, 2025 The naughty list: BBB’s 12 scams of the holidays W Special to The Advocate hen shopping or donating this holiday season, watch out for schemes trying to swipe your cash or steal your personal information. You can avoid most of the scams on this list by taking a few simple precautions. Always exercise caution with social media ads promoting discounted items, holiday events, job opportunities and donation requests, as well as direct messages from strangers. If you are asked to make a payment or donation by wire transfer, through a third party or by prepaid debit or gift card, treat it as a red flag. Be mindful of these scams that could cut into your holiday cheer 1. Misleading social media ads: As you scroll through your social media feed, you often see products advertised. Always research before you buy. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker receives daily reports of people paying for items that they never receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up for or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the one advertised. Before ordering, check out the business profile on BBB.org and read the reviews. 2. Social media gift exchanges: Each holiday season this scheme pops back up. Versions of this scam revolve around exchanging bottles of wine or bourbon; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. Another twist asks you to submit your email to a list where participants get to pick a name and send money to strangers to “pay it forward.” There is even a twist about “Secret Santa Dog” where you buy a $10 gift for your “secret dog.” In all these versions, participants unwittingly share their personal information, along with those of their family members and friends, and are further tricked into buying and shipping gifts or money to unknown individuals. It’s also an illegal pyramid scheme. 3. Holiday apps: Apple’s App Store and Google Play list dozens of holiday-themed apps where children can video chat live with Santa, light the menorah, watch Santa feed live reindeer, track his sleigh on Christmas Eve or relay their holiday wish lists. Review privacy policies to see what information will be collected. Be wary of free apps, as they can sometimes contain more advertising than apps that require a nominal fee. Free apps can also contain malware. Be sure to read reviews as well. 4. Fake toll collection texts: If you’re planning to drive a long distance to visit family or take a vacation this holiday season, watch out for fake road toll collection texts, which have been on the rise this year. In this con, scammers impersonate a state road tollway collection service and text you saying you owe a road toll fee, and they provide a link to click to make your payment. If you receive at text, don’t click the link. Instead, if you think you might owe road tolls, verify your outstanding balance with the legitimate agency. 5. Free gift cards: Nothing brings good cheer like the word “FREE.” Scammers have been known to take advantage of this weakness by sending bulk phishing emails requesting personal information to receive free gift cards. In some of these emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies and promise gift cards to reward their loyal customers. They might also use popup ads or send text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner of a prize. Do not open unsolicited emails with gift card offers. Mark it as spam or junk and delete it. However, if you opened the email, do not click on any links. 6. Temporary holiday jobs: If you’re looking for seasonal work this holiday season, keep an eye out for opportunities that seem too good to be true. Retailers typically hire seasonal workers to help meet the demands of holiday shoppers. Shippers and delivery services are top holiday employers because of the increase in online orders that need to be delivered before Christmas. Job seekers need to be wary of employment scams aimed at stealing money and personal information from job applicants. 7. Impostor scams: These can take many forms, especially during the holiday season when you might be purchasing and returning gifts. When shopping online, be on the lookout for fake, look-alike websites created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, making deadend purchases and sharing private information. If you’re reaching out to a business on social media for customer support, watch out for fake social media accounts pretending to be a customer service representative for a business. When in doubt, go to the website of the business and find their official social media handles, or use the information on the site to reach out. 8. Fake charities: The last few weeks of the year are a busy time for charitable donations. Donors are advised to look out for fraudulent charities and scammers pretending to be individuals in need. Avoid impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. Responsible organizations will welcome a gift tomorrow as much as they do today. Verify a charity at BBB’s Give.org. Where possible, donate to the charity through their website and use a credit card. 9. Fake shipping notifications: More consumers making online purchases during the holidays leads to an increase in the number of notifications about shipping details from retailers and carriers. Scammers use this surge to send phishing emails and texts about package deliveries with links enclosed that might allow unwanted access to your private information or download malware onto your device. They might also try to trick people into paying new shipping fees. Never click a link in a text or email that you’re not expecting. If you want to track a package, find the original email or text confirmation you received directly from the store and use that link. 10. Advent calendars: Each year there are more and more advent calendars being sold. In past years, BBB received reports to Scam Tracker about advent calendar ads on social media not delivering as promised. Some calendars were not received, and in other cases people received inferior products or incomplete orders. Consumers should research before they buy, read reviews and look up the company on BBB.org before purchasing. BBB also has a shopper’s guide to help you purchase that special advent calendar. 11. Holiday wish list items: Lowpriced luxury goods, jewelry, designer clothing and electronics are almost always cheap counterfeits and knockoffs. The same applies to popular toys. This year, the Tosy Magnet Cube, Klutz Lego Gravity Drop activity kit, Easy Bake Ultimate Electric Oven Toy and the Ms. Rachel emotions learning dolls are some of the items in high demand. Be very cautious when considering purchasing popular toys from resellers on Facebook Marketplace and other platforms. 12. Puppy scams: Many families might be considering adding a furry friend to their household this year. However, be on the lookout for scams. Many would-be pet owners turn to the internet to find their future cat or dog, but experts say a shocking 80% of sponsored pet advertisements could be fake. Be sure to see the pet in person before making a purchase. Come sing with Polymnia Choral Society! It’s easy to join! D o you enjoy singing and meeting interesting people? Polymnia Choral Society is looking for singers of all skill levels. For more than 70 years, Polymnia has been entertaining audiences with performances that include pieces from a wide variety of musical styles: classical, pop, musical theater and more. Come join a community of more than 80 members who love to sing and have fun! We welcome participants from all over Massachusetts. Currently, we have members from Melrose, Malden, Wakefield, Stoneham, Saugus, North Reading, Acton and Hamilton. Our concert season runs from September until June each year. Polymnia rehearses every Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., starting on January 6, 2026, at Melrose Highlands Congregational Church at 355 Franklin St. Come to any rehearsal and introduce yourself to Music Librarian Pam Ross, President Steve Francis or Vice President Sandra Bower. For more information about joining Polymnia, visit www.polymnia.org or call Steve Francis, President of Polymnia’s Board of Directors, at 617-633-5006. Accessibility Information: An ADA-compliant ramp is located on the West Highland Avenue entrance of the church, between Ashland Street and Chipman Avenue. Any accessibility questions, requests or concerns can be emailed to accessibility@polymnia.org. Mark your calendars! Polymnia will be performing “An American Quilt” on March 8 at 3 p.m. at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School and Performing Arts Center. “An American Quilt” will celebrate the music of the United States as our country turns 250 years old. Just like a quilt, this concert will feature a rich tapestry of backgrounds and styles that make our country unique, beginning with the African American spiritual and proceeding to the present day. Join us at the school, where we will be joined by the Melrose High School Honors Choir, led by Kimberly Piper. To purchase tickets for Polymnia’s concerts, visit https://polymnia.org/ about-our-upcoming-season/ or Miter Biter at 479 Main St., Melrose 02176, or call 617-633-5006.
11 Publizr Home