Tiffany's Take: Fraud Tips | Ep. 184

• Tiffany introduces the episode focused on fraud prevention during the holiday period between Thanksgiving and the new year, when scammers are most active.

• Before donating to charities, verify legitimacy using watchdog organizations to ensure funds reach intended causes.

• Charity Navigator
• Charity Watch
• Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance

• Avoid clicking links in emails, texts, or ads. Always type website addresses directly into your browser to prevent phishing attacks.

If you see something that you want to purchase... don't click on the link in the text or in the email. Just go ahead and go straight to the site and do it directly.

• Retailers will never contact you requesting login information. Be wary of fake messages from Amazon, UPS, and USPS claiming package or account issues.

• Use Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle only with trusted contacts. Tiffany shares a personal story of a Facebook Marketplace scam attempt where the buyer rushed to move off-platform.

I would prefer to do business through here. So that way I am protected if things go south.

• Don't engage with texts claiming shipment delays. Always connect directly with retailers or carriers through official websites rather than clicking links.

• When possible, use credit cards for purchases due to stronger consumer protections. Debit cards can make recovering funds more difficult if fraud occurs.

Credit cards are actually the best thing to use instead of a debit card because they have more consumer protections than other forms of payment.

• Keep devices and antivirus software updated. Enable automatic updates to protect against the latest threats without manual intervention.