PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Holidays bring an increase in shoppers, both online and in stores, which leads to an increase in theft, robbery, burglary, assault and cyber crimes.
Local police departments told 10 On Your Side that they get more reports of online phishing scams at around this time of year. Most of them are not over email anymore, but rather, they are sending more text messages with things like bogus links.
“Mostly, it’s about some sort of packages that are about to be delivered, and I’m supposed to provide updated information,” said Sachin Shetty with the Center for Secure & Intelligent Critical Systems at Old Dominion University.
Shetty urges people to not open such links if they get them. Using websites that track known scammers, you can copy and paste the link to see if it is legitimate. Shetty is also noticing more scams and unreputable storefronts buying ad space on social media to target users.
“What happens is, you don’t see the link, you see the ad click, the ad opens with a link, and sometimes you are so caught up in that visual of what they are selling that you just fall for it,” he said.
His advice with is to check the URL of where the ad leads you and look up reviews of the website before making your purchase.
Package theft is also known to increase during the holidays. Police urge homeowners to think about installing security cameras, smart lights and alarms. They also recommend asking someone to pick up packages while away from home for an extended period of time.
With more people out and about carrying cash or expensive presents, things like robberies and car break-ins are more likely. Virginia Beach Police told 10 On Your Side that a majority of cases involving stolen items from vehicles happened to people who did not lock their car. Master Police Officer Allen Perry urges people to lock their cars and keep valuable items out of sight.
“They’re not going to bust out a window for nothing in the car,” he said. “…Put valuables in the trunk or in the cargo area with the cargo cover over top of it.”
In Virginia Beach, officers spend much of November visiting stores to remind them that theft goes up during the holidays. They talk to them about the uptick in credit card fraud, security camera placement and shelf height.
“It does increase during the holiday season because you try to put more product in the same confined space,” Perry said. “So it overcrowds the store, but it makes for an environment that is easier for thieves because now the store is so crowded with product, you can’t see folks in the store.”
If much of your shopping is online, experts recommend avoiding debit cards and sticking with credit cards. Those transactions are easier to dispute if you get scammed.
Police in Chesapeake recommend people avoid carrying large amounts of cash at all when holiday shopping. They urge shoppers to monitor their bank accounts and to verify charity organizations before making donations.