Thousands of shoppers fall victim to holiday scams every year. How to avoid them in Wisconsin

Credit card fraud cost consumers another $173 million in losses, according to the report.

This year, Americans are estimated to spend more on Christmas and other holiday gifts than what they estimated last year, according to a new Gallup poll. Most recently, Americans estimated holiday spending will cost them over $1,000, up from $975 last November.

In an effort to prevent holiday scams, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection released a list of most common holiday scams, plus information on what to do if you have been scammed while purchasing a product online.

Common holiday online shopping scams in Wisconsin:

• Package delivery scams: Scammers can send texts and emails about failed or delayed package delivery. Opening the link will send you to a copy of a delivery company’s website asking for personal information. DATCP recommends directly going to the company’s or retailer’s website to check the status of a delivery.
• Online marketplace scams: Consumers should use caution if a seller from Craigslist, eBay or Facebook Marketplace asks you to pay upfront or requests you to move your conversation to text message or another platform.
• Fake website scams: Fake websites can lure consumers into make purchases, sending money to a scammer and allowing them access to your payment information. DATCP advises consumers to never open a link you are sent, even from a familiar website, and instead type the address directly into your browser.