Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange urges Alabamians to take precautions against unscrupulous people who might take advantage of others’ generous and joyful spirits with scams and other potential dangers. 

“The best protection against scams and crimes of opportunity is not to be caught by surprise by scammers and thieves,” Strange said. “Use your judgment and take time to verify questionable contacts. Look for the signs of a scam: They contact you, ask for your personal information and demand that you pay them by wire or prepaid card to collect a prize or pay a supposed debt. Be wary and don’t be afraid to demand proof. Don’t be a victim of consumer fraud.”

Here’s a rundown of some of the most common scams:

Posing as family or friends needing help.

Some scammers may contact you by phone or email posing as a family member who is away from home and in need of money. They may provide excuses like they’ve lost their wallet or experienced some kind of emergency in order to deceive you. Then they’ll instruct you to wire cash or provide them with a prepaid card number.

You should never send money to anyone if you cannot verify their identity. If you are unsure, try to find out where the person reportedly needing assistance is. Ask the person calling or emailing to verify details that only family would know, such as location of last family gathering or where they went to high school or college.

Fake charity

The holiday season is also a popular time for fake charity scams. These scammers often use phishing emails, spoofed telephone numbers or door-to-door visits. Scammers may act as if they are working for an established charity or may even create a fake charity.

It’s best to directly contact the charity of your choice and donate to them instead. If you suspect a door-to-door solicitor, contact local law enforcement.

Consumers may go to the Internal Revenue Service at https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/search-for-charities to look up tax exempt organizations and visit the Better Business Bureau’s www.give.org for more information.

Holiday gift card scam

Christmas gift cards can be manipulated by thieves.

One way is by rubbing off the security codes while they are still on store shelves and wait until they think the gift card has been sold and activated. They will then spend the money, leaving the recipient with no money left on the card. To avoid this scam, make sure the gift card you are buying is intact before you buy it. Compare it to other gift cards of the same variety. Be sure to keep your gift card receipt.

Online shopping

Beware of websites that feature pop-up advertising promising a hard-to-find item or items at a too-good-to-be-true price. Always remember, if an online offer seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

Holiday shopping safety tips

Shoppers should be extra vigilant this time of year for crimes of opportunity. Here’s some tips to shop safely:

Always park in a well-lit area.

Do not leave your purse, presents, or other purchases in plain view in your vehicle.

Do not leave your purse unattended in your shopping cart.

If possible, always shop with a friend or family member. There is safety in numbers.

If meeting someone to purchase something bought online, such as from Craigslist or Facebook, meet in a heavily trafficked and well-lit area. If possible, meet in the parking lot of your local police department or sheriff’s office.

To report suspected consumer fraud, Alabamians can call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-5658. You can also visit the Attorney General’s website at www.ago.alabama.gov and click on “Consumer Protection.”

To file an on-line complaint, use the link: http://www.ago.alabama.gov/Page-Consumer-Protection-File-a-Complaint-01.