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Don't Get Scammed By Santa This Holiday Season
(Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)
Beware! The season of goodwill and cheer also offers prime pickings for con artists.
L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer is warning consumers about holiday scams, including one that starts with an email offering to sell handwritten letters from Santa to your child, usually for the price of $19.99.
"Don't click on the link," Feuer advises in a video. "It takes you to a website promising to sell you a customized letter from Santa. In the best case, you're simply out $20. In the worst case, you just shared your credit card information with potential scammers who could now use it for identity theft."
The holidays are here and so are the scammers. City Attorney Mike Feuer w/ info on the "Letter from Santa" scam. *Remember: They're after your personal & credit card info.
— LA City Attorney (@CityAttorneyLA) November 27, 2020
MORE emerging holiday scams: https://t.co/bQAPAPSyns #BlackFriday2020 #ScamAlert pic.twitter.com/LgAdYZdluw
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Feuer also warned people of another scam that takes place via email and social media. This one starts with a "convincing invitation" to sign up for a gift exchange. You typically have to provide your name, address and other personal information and tag friends. Then, you're invited to send a modest gift to a stranger.
"You're left buying and shipping gifts to unknown individuals in hopes that the favor is going to be reciprocated and that you'll receive the promised number of gifts in return. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen that way. Just like any other pyramid scheme, it relies on the recruitment of individuals to keep the scam afloat," Feuer said.
You can report suspected scammers to the L.A. City Attorney's Office by clicking here.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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