5 Sneaky Holiday Scams to Watch out For - msnNOW

Posted: 24 Nov 2020 12:00 AM PST

As the holidays approach, expect an uptick in scamming activity.

Fraudsters are already taking advantage of the pandemic-related uptick in online shopping to steal consumers' money and personal information through phishing, malware, and straight-up theft.

If you're not extra careful, you could take a bigger financial hit than you planned this holiday season. Here are some of the most common holiday scams to expect this year — and expert advice on how to avoid them.

Virtual "holiday markets"

Let's say your town hosts an annual holiday market. This year, it's been canceled due to the pandemic, but someone is selling tickets for a "virtual market" on Facebook. The event doesn't usually have an entrance fee. Should you dish out the $10 to support your community? Not without doing your due diligence.

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According to the Better Business Bureau, scammers are already cashing in on quarantine by selling tickets for phony virtual events. To protect yourself, John Breyault, a VP at the National Consumers League, suggests calling the person or organization who normally plans the event to find out if it's really happening online, and if so, whether they're charging an entrance fee.

A few bucks might not set you back too much, but Breyault says scammers often hook people with small amounts, then trick them into spending more money on add-ons (in this case, raffle tickets or donations). "Beware that even small amounts of money can turn into bigger losses if you're not careful."

Another caution: It's best not to engage with dubious virtual markets at all — these scammers are also known for stealing people's credit card info and installing malware on their phones.

"Secret sister" gift exchanges

Here's another scenario: You're scrolling Facebook and see an acquaintance post about a gift exchange they're participating in. If you opt in to buy one present of your choice for a "secret sister," you'll receive up to 36 packages in the mail. We all need a little bit of cheer right now, you think, so why not sign up?

According to Breyault, the "secret sister gift exchange," which has been circulating on social media since 2015, is a classic example of "free money scams," where participants are conned into paying a small amount of money for the promise of getting something of greater value in return. In other words, it's an illegal pyramid scheme, and as with every other pyramid scheme, it relies on new, unsuspecting recruits. Once people stop signing up, the gift supply halts — leaving most people out the money they spent on their present, with nothing in return.

Breayault's advice: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. And NEVER give out your personal information to someone you don't know online.

Gift card scams

Ever come across a coveted item, like a PlayStation 5, or basically anything "Baby Yoda," offered online at a major discount? The seller is on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, and the only catch is they want you to pay with an Amazon gift card?

This is one of the most common holiday scams out there, and it's one of the hardest to get reimbursed for.

"Once you provide the gift card number, chances are the money will be gone, and it's nearly impossible to recover once it's lost," Breyault says.

Always use your credit or debit card for online purchases. If someone's asking you to pay with a gift card, it's probably a scam.

Package delivery scams

Since you're doing all your holiday shopping online this year, you may be concerned about the millions of packages getting delayed or lost thanks to an overabundance of online shoppers. But if you get an email from "UPS" asking to confirm your personal info before your packages come, go ahead and delete it.

According to Breyault, phishing scammers are taking advantage of the pandemic-related e-commerce explosion to gain sensitive information from consumers by phone, text, or email. But delivery services like UPS, Amazon Prime, and FedEx will never ask for personal info like your login or banking information. So if you get an email or text asking for any these details, you can bet it's a scam.

If you're worried about missing a package, call the store you ordered the item from directly to check the status, or view the tracking info online through the United Parcel Service's (UPS) verified tracker.

Bogus charities

Charity scams pop up every year around the holidays. People are in a giving mood, after all, and if their money can go towards homeless pets or needs kids, all the better.

Fraudsters may impersonate a legitimate charity, or one you've never heard of, but either way, they steal your money by pulling your heartstrings. Often, Breyault says, scammers make fake websites that take "donations" through PayPal for a non-existent charity.

Do your research before donating to an organization you're unfamiliar with — the legitimate ones are usually listed on nonprofit databases like Charity Navigator and GuideStar.

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Walmart, Target, Best Buy are closed Thanksgiving amid COVID-19, while CVS and Walgreens are open. See the list. - msnNOW

Posted: 26 Nov 2020 12:00 AM PST

What stores are open on Thanksgiving Day?

What to watch next

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For the last decade, Black Friday in-store sales have continued to creep into Thanksgiving, eating into time people used to spend around the holiday table.

Not this year during the coronavirus pandemic.

Retailers that have kicked off Black Friday on Thanksgiving in 2019 and past years are keeping the doors closed this Thanksgiving, moving more of the hottest deals online.

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Walmart was the first to announce in July that it wouldn't open stores on Thanksgiving for the first time since the late 1980s and others including Target and Best Buy quickly followed saying it was a way to support and protect employees in a trying year.

Black Friday 2020 store hours: When Walmart, Target, Best Buy and others open their doors Friday amid COVID-19

Holiday deals to your inbox: Reviewed sorts the good from the bad and sends recommendations right to your inbox

The holiday shopping season got off to an earlier start and sales are lasting longer as retailers look to spread demand and reduce crowds. Sales dubbed "Black Friday" started in early November but there are still many new rounds of sales this week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified "shopping at crowded stores just before, on or after Thanksgiving" on a list of higher-risk activities to avoid and in guidance issued ahead of the fall holidays also suggested more online shopping.

Several restaurants also are closed on Thanksgiving. (See the list of who is open and who is closed here.)

Stores closed on Thanksgiving 2020

Here are the major retailers staying closed on Thanksgiving Day:

Thanksgiving Day grocery store hours

Because of state laws, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island stores will remain closed Thanksgiving. Stores in some areas could also have varied hours because of local or state restrictions amid the pandemic.

Acme Market: Most stores open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., all pharmacies closed.

Albertsons: Hours vary, but most have shorter hours..

Bashas' Supermarkets: Open until 3 p.m.

Dillons: Open until 4 p.m.

Food Lion: Open until 4 p.m.

Fred Meyer: Open until 3 p.m.

The Fresh Market: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fresh Thyme: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Giant Company: Open until 3 p.m.

Giant Food: Open until 3 p.m.

Giant Eagle Supermarkets: Open until 3 p.m.

Harris Teeter: All stores close 2 p.m.

H-E-B: 6 a.m. to noon

Hy-Vee: Normal hours.

King Soopers: Stores open until 4 p.m., pharmacies closed.

Kroger: All stores open until 5 p.m., pharmacies closed.

Meijer: Supercenters open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., pharmacies open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to this news release.

Ralphs: Most stores open until 10 p.m.

Safeway: Varies, but shortened hours.

Save A Lot: Varies, most stores open until 3 p.m.

Smart & Final: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sprouts Farmers Market: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Stop & Shop: Connecticut, New Jersey and New York stores open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. while Massachusetts and Rhode Island stores are closed.

Tops: Open until 4 p.m.

Wegmans: Most locations open until 4 p.m. but Massachusetts stores will be closed.

Whole Foods Market: Varies. Many stores open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WinCo Foods: Stores close by 3 p.m.

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Other stores open Thanksgiving 2020

Many stores are still operating with reduced hours due to COVID-19 and others will reduce hours further Thursday. Many gas station convenience stores will be open normal hours. Check with your store before heading out. Click on store names to search for location-specific information.

7-Eleven

Bass Pro Shops: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m..

Belk: Open for curbside and in-store pickup from 4 to 11 p.m.; reopen 7 a.m. Black Friday.

Big Lots: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; reopen 6 a.m. Black Friday

Cabela's: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; reopen 5 a.m. Black Friday.

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Cumberland Farms

CVS: Most locations open regular hours but most pharmacies will be closed.

Dollar General: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., excludes Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Dollar Tree: Most stores will be open with shorter hours.

Family Dollar: Most stores will be open with shorter hours.

goPuff

Edible: 8 a.m. to noon.

Instacart: The on-demand delivery service will be "servicing orders nationally, with delivery in as fast as an hour, from as early as 6 am - 2 pm local time on Thanksgiving Day," the company told USA TODAY.

Mapco

Love's Travel Stops

Pilot Flying J

Rite Aid: Most locations open regular hours but most pharmacies will be closed.

Sheetz

Shipt

TravelCenters of America

Walgreens: Most locations open regular hours but most pharmacies will be closed.

Wawa

More stores: Smaller chains and local stores may also be open on Thanksgiving. Some will post special hours on social media.

Contributing: David P. Willis, Asbury Park Press

Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko