How to avoid the most common holiday scams [Video]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – As you’re picking out the perfect gifts for your loved ones this holiday season, scammers are looking to take advantage of you in new ways.

Former FBI operative and cybersecurity expert Eric O’Neill says one of the most common ways scammers are looking to take advantage of you this month is through social media.

While some social media ads are legitimate, others will lead you to fake online stores. Once you fill out your information, he says not only will you never get that gift in the mail, but your identity could be stolen.

O’Neill suggests verifying the legitimacy of websites before buying a product. A sign that a website is a scam is if there are misspellings in the domain or throughout the site.

The holiday season is also a popular time to give to charities, especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene. You can …