PUTNAM COUNTY, TN –November 20, 2018, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office wants to get you
prepared for the upcoming holiday weekend with tips to keep you digitally secure.
Digital spending is on the rise. Most people are aware that millennials and gen-z will make a majority of
their purchases with smartphones and laptops, but according to AARP, senior citizens will make twice
as many purchases over the phone than other groups. The Better Business Bureau’s numbers for last
year’s consumer spending on Black Friday was $7.9 billion, and Cyber Monday brought in $6.6 million.
Unfortunately, this means that digital crime and fraud are on an upswing as well. In fact, experts expect
fraud attempts to increase by 33 percent statewide and 3.27 percent nationally this holiday season.
Scammers prey on the fact that retail offers are time sensitive and that people are in the mood to
contribute to charitable organizations. It creates a perfect storm of urgency and split-second decisions.
The use of chips in credit cards has curtailed the ability of these thieves to duplicate credit cards and use
them in stores, but online or on a mobile device is a different story. They can use today’s technology to
hide their phone numbers and locations while stealing your identity or credit card information.
What’s a digital consumer to do? Fight back by making yourself a difficult target.
1. Update anti-virus software.
Ensure your computer and mobile devices are protected. Personal information can be accessed
through mobile devices too.
2. Refuse to use insecure websites.
Only share personal information or credit card numbers with sites that are ‘https’ and that have a
security lock icon in the task bar. The extra “s” stands for secure.
3. Do your spending homework in advance and take your time before confirming purchases.
Research special offers and charitable organizations, especially during the holiday season.
4. Remember that “No” is a full sentence, and it’s ok to verify information.
It’s okay to say "no" to giving your financial information to anyone over the phone, ever.
“Earning the Public’s Trust Every Day!”
Anyone who requests your personal information should be understanding of any attempts you
make to verify that they are who they say they are.
5. Track your holiday spending and gift information.
Check your bank account balance regularly. Many banks and credit cards make this easier by
allowing customers to view their purchases digitally. Print or save your purchase confirmation
and delivery information. That way you can verify any future emails regarding those purchases.
There are “buy online, pick up in-store”, fake shipping notifications, look-alike websites and “your
credit card did not work/was declined” scams already circulating this holiday season. The look-alike
websites are commonly used for charity or non-profit websites. There is even a “Secret Sister” scam that
has resurfaced on Facebook and Twitter promising gifts.
For a more complete list of scams or to report one, visit one of the links below.
BBB Scam Tracker.
https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us
Common Scams and Frauds
https://www.usa.gov/common-scams-frauds
Federal Trade Commission
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts
Sheriff Eddie Farris and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office want to wish everyone a Happy
Thanksgiving! Please stay safe and enjoy your time with family, friends and loved ones.