Tips to avoid scams when shopping this holiday season

While many people will receive legitimate emails and messages from delivery companies and businesses this holiday shopping season, sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between real and fake solicitations. UScellular wants to help ensure you stay diligent and prevent getting scammed.

Identity thieves know that shoppers may be particularly vulnerable during the holiday season. If the message conveys urgency and asks you to do something immediately, consider that a red flag. Also never click on a link in a text message unless you are 100 percent certain who sent it to you. Be especially vigilant about fake promotions, pop-up ads, package tracking emails, e-cards, charity donation links, and purchase confirmation emails. When in doubt, call the organization directly. 

“Now that the holiday shopping season is here, we want to provide Maine consumers with tips to stay safe while buying gifts for family and friends,” said Kyle Burbine, interim director of sales and operations for UScellular in New England. “UScellular wants to help customers find everything on their list, without the threat of fraud and scammers ruining their holiday spirit.”

If you suspect a message is a scam, you can report it using the free SpamResponse app that empowers customers to easily report potential text message spam. In response to reported spam, UScellular can investigate fraudulent websites – and can get them shut down, creating a safer and better customer experience. 

UScellular is sharing the following tips to help you prevent scams around the holidays or anytime:

Do not respond to unwanted texts from questionable sources. 

Don’t click on links in texts from any unknown numbers.

Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. If you answer such a call, hang up immediately. If you miss a call from an unknown number, don’t call it back.

You may not be able to tell right away if an incoming call is spoofed. Caller ID showing a “local” number does not necessarily mean it is a local caller.

Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, passwords or other identifying information if you are at all suspicious.

Additionally, UScellular’s free Call Guardian app provides spam call identification based on known offenders. Users can also report suspect numbers quickly within the app or by going to reportarobocall.com. Call Guardian Premium ($3.99 per month) provides enhanced call details, including “Potential Spam”, “Potential Fraud” or “Robocall” with a risk level of “High”, “Medium” or “Low” to better inform you on who is truly calling. 

UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to help customers stay connected to the things that matter most. The Chicago-based carrier provides a strong, reliable network supported by the latest technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. Through its After School Access Project, the company has donated more than $23 million in hotspots and services to help youth connect to reliable internet. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, visit newsroom.uscellular.com.