5 Online Scams That Could Steal Your Joy

Keep the jingle in your pocket and ward off fraudsters this holiday season.

Cyber criminals are always hard at work this time of year. They're corrupting e-cards with viruses, creating fake online auctions, imitating charity sites — all to take advantage of your holiday habits, says Alison Southwick of the Better Business Bureau.
Each year, scammers use the season of giving to devise new schemes — and relying on their tried-and-true tactics — to steal your money and personal information, warns Dave Marcus, director of security research for McAfee Inc., a leading security technology company.
Here are five major holiday scams to look out for this season and tips on protecting yourself.

1. Quizzes, Polls and Contests

The promise of something for nothing is a classic ploy of online crooks. One typical scam promises the first 20,000 responders will receive $1,000 gift cards to a popular electronics store if they "Like" the store on Facebook. Clicking the link takes you to a bogus page that asks for numerous personal details, which can be used for identity theft. And, of course, there are no gift cards.
To protect yourself: Ignore such offers or go directly to a company's Facebook page or website to verify if these offers are legit.

2. Auctions and Deals Too Good To Be True

Shopping on eBay and other auction sites can be a great way to save money, but the deals may be too good to be true — especially if the seller wants you to wire money in advance.

USAA's Security Guarantees

Here are five ways USAA works to protect your accounts and transactions. 1. Careful communication. You can easily recognize legitimate inquiries about your USAA accounts. "USAA will never — ever — ask for your account or personal information via text message, e-mail or phone call," says Tom Shaw, vice president of USAA's Enterprise Security Group. 2. Zero liability protection. You are never responsible for unauthorized charges on USAA cards. Notify us of loss or theft at a 1-800-531-USAA (8722). 3. Account monitoring. We proactively monitor accounts for fraudulent activity and alert members if anything is suspicious. 4. Payment protection. When using USAA's Web BillPay service, if we don't process bills and payments the way you specify, we'll pay up to $50 to cover your late fees or penalties. 5. Online account fraud protection. If your account is the victim of unauthorized access, we will reimburse your account and credit you for any fees charged due to the unauthorized transaction.

To protect yourself: Remember the old saying: "If the deal's too good to be true, it probably is." USAA members have made insurance claims on damaged jewelry and sent it in for repair, only to have USAA gemologists discover it's not what the member thought they owned. "We had one disappointed member learn that a semi-precious stone she had purchased was actually glass," says Russell Schulze, USAA claims replacement manager.
Before considering any deal, Southwick says, check the seller's ratings and reviews on the selling site. Be extra cautious: Some fraudulent sites may even imitate a Better Business Bureau seal to throw you off. You can verify BBB-approval at bbb.org. And whatever you do, never pay by wire transfer, a surefire indication of a fraudulent sale.

3. Phony Charities

Scammers take advantage of your good nature and generosity by asking for donations via a website or text message, particularly after a natural disaster (such as the earthquake in Haiti) or during the holidays.
To protect yourself: Check that a charity is legitimate at the BBB Wise Giving Alliance or the American Institute of Philanthropy. You can always donate directly via a charity's website, too.

4. Malware-ridden Holiday Cards and Programs

Animated greetings, seasonal screensavers and winter-themed games become popular this time of year. Sadly, many of these programs are accompanied by spyware and other malicious technology.
To protect yourself: A good anti-malware product — try McAfee, Norton, Kaspersky or Avira — will stop virtually all of this stuff in its tracks. But your best bet is simply to not open any e-mail — even from a loved one — that contains a forwarded greeting card or holiday game. Get extra protection by ensuring your computer software updates are downloaded and applied automatically.

5. Vacation Homes Not Really for Rent

This up-and-coming scam is surprisingly simple: Fraudsters set up a "vacation rental" site for a real home (complete with photos), and they rent it out for weekend and holiday getaways. The problem: The scammer doesn't own the house, and it's not actually for rent, much to the surprise of both owner and renter come arrival day.
To protect yourself: Use trusted travel sites and rental agencies when booking. Low-resolution photos of the home and super-low rental prices are also a giveaway that something is fishy.