Who can resist online shopping?
With one click of a button and the sharing of my credit card information, I bought holiday gifts for everyone. It was so easy and so convenient until I received an email from my credit card company, which notified me of an unusual charge on my card.
Did I purchase a $3,000 laptop computer in Kentucky? Nope.
Thank goodness I received a fraud alert. My card was canceled and the charges were erased.
This story is all too common these days especially since scammers are everywhere, ready to take advantage through a credit card purchase, an unwarranted letter or telephone call.
As a new tax season begins, residents should be aware of scams posing under the Internal Revenue Service. The Buffalo Grove Police Department often receives reports about telephone scams where residents receive calls from people claiming how they owe taxes to the IRS.
As explained on the IRS website, the federal agency never initiates contact with taxpayers through email, text messages or social media to request personal or financial information. This includes requests for PIN numbers, passwords, credit card and other financial account information.
If you receive a suspicious email from someone claiming to be from the IRS, you shouldn’t reply or open any attachments and instead, forward it to [email protected]. If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, you should record the person’s name, badge number, call back number and caller ID. You also can call 1-800-366-4484 to determine if the caller is a real IRS employee with a legitimate need to contact you.
Finally, if you receive a letter, notice or form via mail or fax that just doesn’t look right, you can call 1-800-829-1040 to determine if it is real or not.
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When it comes to online shopping, Buffalo Grove police have advised consumers to be aware of package theft that can happen at any time in the year — not only during the holiday season.
Thieves have been known to follow delivery vehicles and comb residential areas during the day, when many people are at work. There are other tips available to help protect packages.
When ordering online, a consumer can try to pick a specific delivery time for when someone can be home to receive the package. Packages also can be delivered to a location where someone immediately can retrieve it, such as a neighbor’s house or even a place of employment.
Text message delivery alerts also can inform consumers when a package has arrived. If possible, consumers also can ask the delivery company to hold a package at its facility for in-person pickup.
Buffalo Grove police also suggest how exterior security cameras on homes could deter potential robbers. If a crime does happen, cameras also can help identify people and vehicles near your home.
Buffalo Grove police also urges residents to be cautious when selling or buying items on sites, such as Craigslist. If you do not know the buyer or seller personally, and you need a place to exchange merchandise safely, the police department has created an exchange zone at their station, 46 Raupp Blvd., Buffalo Grove.
The “safe zone” is in the department’s well-lit lobby complete with video surveillance.
Another way to protect yourself from scammers is to dispose properly paperwork containing sensitive personal and financial information.
If you are looking for a place to shred your papers, Paper Tiger Document Solutions in Gurnee offers certain times for drop-in shredding at its facility, 1101 N. Estes St. More information can be found at www.yourpapertiger.com or by calling (847) 599-9700.
Aileen Simons is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press. Reach her at [email protected].