Money Management
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 26, 2007
DON’T
LET THIEVES AND CON ARTISTS RUIN YOUR HOLIDAYS
Unfortunately, not everyone is filled with the spirit of
peace and good will at this time of year. The holidays are
peak season for criminals. The North Carolina Association of
CPAs recommends a number of steps you can take to avoid
falling prey to their schemes.
HOLD ON
TO YOUR WALLET
Crowded stores and distracted shoppers are a boon to
pickpockets, so try to limit the cash you carry so you don’t
have much to lose. Keep your wallet in a zipped bag, a front
pocket or in a back pocket that buttons.
When
you take out a credit card for use, monitor its whereabouts
during the transaction and put it safely back in your
wallet. If your card is lost, report it to the card issuer
immediately. And if you use your debit card at an ATM or in
a store, be careful that others don’t view your personal
identification number.
GUARD
AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT
Protecting your credit card is important because the loss of
any identification could leave you open to identity theft,
in which scammers use your personal information to make
purchases in your name that they don’t intend to pay for. As
a result, it’s not a good idea to carry essential ID such as
a Social Security card in your wallet when you’re shopping
in crowded stores. Take care to hold on to the receipts you
receive for purchases or from an ATM, since they may contain
personal financial information about your accounts that
thieves can use.
PROTECT
YOUR PACKAGES
Always keep an eye on your shopping bags. If you rest them
on the ground, place them in front of you so they can’t be
grabbed when you’re not looking. If you leave packages in
your car, put them in the trunk or make sure they are out of
sight so thieves are not tempted to break in.
LOOK
OUT FOR ONLINE SCAMS
Never provide your credit card or other personal information
in response to an e-mail. If you do, you could fall victim
to popular schemes like this one: A consumer makes a
purchase from a large Internet retailer, then receives an
e-mail notice purportedly from that retailer asking them to
click on a link and re-enter their financial information.
Don’t do it, because there’s a good chance the sender is a
con artist looking to steal your personal data. Close out
the email and call the retailer’s customer service number to
find out if the notice is legitimate.
CHECK
OUT CHARITIES
Many scammers create bogus “charities” at this time of year
to take advantage of people’s holiday generosity. Last year,
for example, many phony groups sprouted up pretending to be
collecting money for veterans or those currently serving in
the military.
To
guard against being scammed, it’s best to know the charity
you are considering donating to. As a result, you shouldn’t
give money to anyone soliciting door-to-door, by telephone
or via e-mail. Instead, ask for written information about
the charity before you donate and see how donations are
used. You can also check Web sites such as
www.give.org or
www.charitynavigator.org to verify the group’s
authenticity.
TURN TO
YOUR CPA FOR ANSWERS
Looking for more information to avoid thieves or scammers
during the holidays? CPAs are experienced financial advisers
who can advise you on smart steps to safeguard your finances
and financial information.
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Produced
in cooperation with the AICPA.
©2007 The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
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