The holiday shopping period is here, bringing along the risk of scams.

The FBI advises shoppers to be cautious of great deals that seem unrealistic, particularly as many begin to explore Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers, whether online or in stores.

“Every year, numerous individuals fall victim to holiday scams,” the FBI stated on its website. “Scammers can take away your hard-earned cash, personal information, and at the very least, ruin your holiday spirit.”

Consumers should remain particularly alert about scams such as auction fraud, gift card fraud, and non-delivery scams, as these are commonly reported. Most of these tricks involve buyers making payments for products or services that are misrepresented—and then never arrive.

In 2023, scams related to non-payment and non-delivery resulted in losses exceeding $309 million, with credit card fraud leading to an additional $173 million in losses, according to the FBI’s Internet Complaint Center report.

“The [Internet Complaint Center] experiences a high volume of complaints at the start of each year, indicating a direct link to the scams that occurred during the previous holiday shopping season,” the FBI remarked.

Here are essential information and tips about holiday fraud, including how to steer clear of them and safeguard your finances during this shopping season.

‘Don’t let yourself fall victim,’ warns FBI in alert Types of Holiday Shopping Scams to Avoid

To shield the public from scammers while shopping, the FBI has provided several important tips to help both buyers and sellers avoid potential scams.

You can take several precautionary measures to protect yourself and your finances, such as maintaining good cybersecurity practices, knowing the identity of the person or business you’re buying from or selling to, being cautious with payment methods, and keeping an eye on shipment details.

And, “keep in mind: If it appears too good to be true, it probably is,” the FBI cautioned.

Here are more detailed tips to consider as you embark on your holiday shopping, thanks to guidance from the FBI:

• Do not click on any “suspicious” links or attachments found in emails, on websites, or social media. Be particularly careful if asked to provide personal information to gain access.
• Ensure all website URLs are “verified.” A secure connection typically displays a padlock symbol in the address bar, along with “https” at the beginning of the URL, as noted by Forbes. If a site doesn’t show these indicators, consider shopping elsewhere.
• Research and read reviews before making purchases from unfamiliar companies for the first time. It’s advisable to steer clear of sellers with predominantly negative feedback or those without any reviews on auction sites or online marketplaces.
• Avoid purchasing items from sellers who claim to be authorized dealers or factory representatives of popular products in regions where such representations are untrue, or those asserting they are located overseas while responding to inquiries.
• Be wary of buyers who offer suspicious shipping options, attempt to bypass customs, taxes, or fees, and suggest risky payment methods like wire transfers or prepaid gift cards.
• Report any questionable transactions.
• Keep a detailed record of all transactions, including tracking and shipping information, to monitor your purchases effectively.