Don’t let scammers and thieves steal your holiday cheer this year. Here are our top 11 dos and don’ts to protect your money and gifts.

1. Don’t leave purchases, purses or wallets visible in your car. If you have multiple stops to make, put valuables out of sight or in your trunk.

2. Don’t leave boxes in your trash that show your new expensive toy. If a potential thief can see you have a big new TV because the box is visible from your trash can, they know where to come next!

3. Don’t leave packages on your doorstep. Porch pirates sometimes follow delivery trucks! If you’re not home to get the package right away, consider having it shipped to a delivery locker, PO Box, or your workplace instead.

4. Don’t buy gift cards that look damaged, taped or tampered with. Some people corrupt gift cards then leave them on the store shelf. When the victim goes to purchase the card, the money goes to the fraudster.

5. Don’t trust every email or text. Scammers may impersonate delivery companies demanding payment before delivery. If in doubt, call the company directly using the number on their website.

6. Don’t send a deposit for items listed on online marketplaces or classifieds before seeing them in person. Scammers often post fake listings, collect a deposit, and then vanish with your money!

7. Don’t leave your car running on a cold day to warm up – this is an open invitation for theft.

8. Do be careful with your donations. Scammers can use technology and AI to impersonate charities, and even use the phone number to make it look like they’re calling from a real organization. If you get a call from a charity asking for donations and credit card information over the phone, you can hang up and contact the charity yourself from the number on their website. Or, check Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, to verify the reliability of the organization.

9. Do double check with businesses or police officers if you get a threatening phone call. AI can impersonate anyone’s voice. Trust-worthy businesses and individuals will not threaten you with debt, violence or arrest on the phone.
   
10. Do use light and media timers to make it look like you are home if you go away for the holidays.
    
11. Do call the non-emergency police hotline if you think you are the victim of a fraud or theft at 801-840-4000.