![]()
Americans are expected to spend more than ever on holiday shopping this year, and the scams aimed at them are getting harder to spot. Barry J. Babin, the Phil B. Hardin Chair and Distinguished Professor of Marketing at the University of Mississippi, said the National Retail Federation expects November and December spending to top $1 trillion for the first time, with growth of 4.2%. Some other forecasts, he said, project growth as high as 5.5%.
kAmQr@?DF>6CD 2C6 DA6?5:?8 2?5 E96JVC6 DA6?5:?8 42C67F==J[Q q23:? D2:5] QqFE E96J 2C6 8@:?8 E@ DA6?5]Q $9@AA:?8 42C67F==J :D 86EE:?8 92C56C[ E9@F89[ 2D 72<6 DE@C67C@?ED[ 72<6 C6G:6HD 2?5 DA@@765 EC2G6= D:E6D 8C@H >@C6 4@?G:?4:?8]k^Am
kAmq23:? D92C65 25G:46 H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]42>AFD:?D:89ED>65:2]4@>^Qmr2>AFD x?D:89ED |65:2k^2m @? DE2J:?8 D276 E9:D 9@=:52J D62D@?[ DE2CE:?8 H:E9 D<:AA:?8 E96 4=:4<\E9C@F89]k^Am
k9bm(9J E96 72<6D 2C6 92C56C E@ DA@Ek^9bm
kAmQ%96 >@DE 7F?52>6?E2= 5:776C6?46 :D E92E E96 E649?@=@8J 7@C 72<:?8 E9:?8D :D >F49 36EE6C 2== E96 E:>6[Q q23:? D2:5] $42>>6CD 42? BF:4<=J =2F?49 72<6 3C2?5 >6DD286D[ 72<6 DE@C67C@?ED 2?5 72<6 C6G:6HD :? =2C86C ?F>36CD E92? 6G6C 367@C6] x>AC@G6>6?ED :? E649?@=@8J 92G6 2=D@ >256 :E 92C56C E@ 5:DE:?8F:D9 C62= 7C@> 72<6] qFE D9@AA6CD 2=D@ 92G6 >@C6 2?5 36EE6C E649?@=@8J E@ ECJ E@ 56E64E D42>D] QxEVD 5:77:4F=E E@ <?@H H9@ :D H:??:?8 E92E C246[Q q23:? D2:5]k^Am
kAmp k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D42>H:D6]4@>^9@=:52J\D42>\C6A@CE\a_aeQm9@=:52J C6A@CE 7C@> $42>H:D6k^2m[ 2 7C66 D42>\4964<:?8 E@@= >256 3J $2G: $64FC:EJ[ @776CD 2 =@@< 2E E96 D42>>6CDV D:56 @7 E92E C246] %96 4@>A2?J 2?2=JK65 >@C6 E92? ad_[___ D9@AA:?8 D:E6D E92E A6@A=6 DF3>:EE65 E@ :ED 4964<6C 7C@> |2C49 E9C@F89 ~4E@36C a_ae[ 2?5 7@F?5 D42>>6CD 3F:=5:?8 72<6 DE@C6D >F49 =:<6 C62= C6E2:=6CD 5@] px\86?6C2E65 4@?E6?E[ H9:49 2AA62C65 @? fcT @7 D42> DE@C6D[ =6ED 2 DE@C6 H:E9 ?@ C62= :?G6?E@CJ 7:== 9F?5C65D @7 AC@5F4E A286D @G6C?:89E] |@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 E96 72<6 DE@C6D H6C6 9@DE65 @? H6==\<?@H? 6\4@>>6C46 A=2E7@C>D[ 3@CC@H:?8 E96 A=2E7@C>D’ 4C65:3:=:EJ[ 2?5 2E =62DE @?6 :? 7:G6 4@F=5 36 EC2465 324< E@ 2? 25 @? 2 >2;@C D62C49 @C D@4:2= >65:2 A=2E7@C>]k^Am
kAm%96 72<6 DE@C6D 2=D@ 5@?VE DE2J FA =@?8] %96J 4@==64E A2J>6?ED 2?5 5:D2AA62C[ @7E6? 367@C6 2?J@?6 42? EC246 E96>[ 2?5 f :? `_ H6C6 @77=:?6 H:E9:? h_ 52JD @7 36:?8 4964<65 H:E9 $42>H:D6] }6H @?6D BF:4<=J E2<6 E96:C A=246] $42>H:D6 FD6CD 7=28 2 ?6G6C\367@C6\D66? 72<6 DE@C6 C@F89=J 6G6CJ E9C66 >:?FE6D[ @C 23@FE d__ 2 52J] %96 ?F>36C @7 72<6 9@=:52J\E96>65 DE@C6D DF3>:EE65 E@ E96 E@@= 8C6H 7:G67@=5 7C@> pF8FDE E@ ~4E@36C] %96 7:8FC6D C67=64E H92E E96 E@@=VD @H? FD6CD DF3>:EE65[ ?@E 2 4@F?E @7 6G6CJ 72<6 DE@C6 @?=:?6]k^Am
kAm~?=:?6 C6G:6HD 42== 7@C 42FE:@?[ E@@] tG6? p>2K@?[ H9:49 92D E9@FD2?5D @7 H@C<6CD ECJ:?8 E@ >2<6 DFC6 :ED C6G:6HD 2C6 =68:E:>2E6[ DE:== 92D 72<6 C6G:6HD D=:AA:?8 E9C@F89[ q23:? D2:5] p>2K@? :ED6=7 D2JD :E DE@AA65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^ECFDEH@CE9JD9@AA:?8]23@FE2>2K@?]4@>^9@H\2>2K@?\>2:?E2:?D\2\ECFDE65\C6G:6H\6IA6C:6?46Qm>@C6 E92? ad_ >:==:@? DFDA64E65 72<6 C6G:6HDk^2m :? a_ab 2=@?6]k^Am
k9bm%96 D42>D E@ H2E49 7@C E9:D D62D@?k^9bm
kAmq23:? A@:?E65 D9@AA6CD E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]73:]8@G^9@H\H6\42?\96=A\J@F^4@>>@?\7C2F5D\2?5\D42>D^9@=:52J\D42>DQmuqxVD =:DE @7 4@>>@? 9@=:52J D42>Dk^2m] p>@?8 E96>ik^Am
kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6haa272ea3eg4hd2cah365`6cagebb25gQm}@?\56=:G6CJ D42>D[ :? H9:49 2 AFC492D6 ?6G6C 2CC:G6D]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6ahd_b426cda5be`h666g`b7`b3_6ade2QmpF4E:@? 7C2F5[ :? H9:49 2 AC@5F4E :D >:DC6AC6D6?E65]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6556f3h4ed774c4bea3b`hb5535ed2b_4Qmv:7E 42C5 7C2F5[ :? H9:49 D@>6@?6 A@D:?8 2D 2 >6C492?E 2D<D J@F E@ A2J H:E9 2 AC6A2:5 8:7E 42C5 2?5 E96? DE62=D E96 7F?5D]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6c52bda5h34a5bg`3acec5gg22g7ha4c3Qm!2J>6?E D42>D 2:>65 2E D6==6CD[ :? H9:49 3FJ6CD FD6 G2C:@FD EC:4<D E@ 2G@:5 A2J:?8 7@C 8@@5D 2?5 D6CG:46D]k^=:mk^F=m
kAm$9@AA6CD D9@F=5 2=D@ 36 H2CJ @7 72<6 DE@C67C@?ED 2?5 72<6 EC2G6= 286?ED[ q23:? D2:5[ 2?5 EC2G6= :D 2 A2CE:4F=2C 4@?46C?] Qx7 D@>6@?6 :D =@@<:?8 E@ G242E:@? E9:D 9@=:52J D62D@?[ E96J ?665 E@ <?@H E96J >2J ?@E 2=H2JD 36 EC2?D24E:?8 H:E9 E96 D6CG:46 AC@G:56C]Qk^Am
kAmw6 @776C65 2? 6I2>A=6] p EC2G6=6C ECJ:?8 E@ 3@@< 2 C@@> 2E E96 w:=E@? :? $2G2??29 >:89E =2?5 @? 2 D:E6 E92E =@@<D =:<6 E96 9@E6=VD @H? 3FE :D 24EF2==J 2 DA@@7 CF? 3J 2? @?=:?6 EC2G6= 286?4J[ H9:49 >2JÂ @C >2J ?@E 36 =68:E:>2E6] p? :>286 E92E =@@<D 4@A:65 @C 5@4E@C65 42? 36 2 D:8? E92E J@FVC6 @? 2 DA@@7 D:E6[ 96 D2:5] $9@AA6CD D9@F=5 >2<6 E96:C 36DE 677@CE E@ 562= H:E9 E96 4@>A2?J 5:C64E=J C2E96C E92? E9C@F89 2? :?E6C>65:2CJ]k^Am
k9bm$<:A E96 4=:4<\E9C@F89k^9bm
kAmq23:? 4@>A2C65 E96 AC@3=6> E@ E96 D64FC:EJ EC2:?:?8 >2?J 6>A=@J6CD C6BF:C6[ H9:49 :?4=F56D 8F:52?46 @? H9:49 6>2:=D E@ ECFDE 2?5 H9:49 =:?<D E@ 4=:4<] r@?DF>6CD 7246 E96 D2>6 C:D<D 3FE 5@?VE 2=H2JD 86E E92E EC2:?:?8] Qq6 G6CJ H2CJ @7 4=:4<\E9C@F89[Q q23:? D2:5] x7 J@F D66 2 8@@5 @776C 7C@> 2 C6E2:=6C J@F <?@H[ 8@ E@ E92E C6E2:=6CVD H63D:E6 @? J@FC @H?[ H:E9@FE 4=:4<:?8 E96 =:?<[ 2?5 4964< H96E96C E96 @776C :D E96C6]k^Am
kAm$9@AA6CD D9@F=5 8@ 5:C64E=J E@ 2 C6AFE23=6[ 2FE96?E:4 H63D:E6 @C 2AA[ 96 D2:5[ 2?5 4@?D:56C 3FJ:?8 :? A6CD@? H96? E96 D2>6 @776C :D 2G2:=23=6 :? DE@C6D] w6 D66D 2 EC6?5 324< E@H2C5 :?\DE@C6 D9@AA:?8Â 2D A6@A=6 =@@< 7@C 2FE96?E:4 6IA6C:6?46D[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C 9:89\E:4<6E 2?5 =FIFCJ :E6>D] qFJ:?8 @?=:?6[ 96 D2:5[ 6IA@D6D A6@A=6 E@ 7C2F5 >F49Â >@C6 E92? 3FJ:?8 7C@> 2 =68:E:>2E6 C6E2:=6C :? 2 DE@C6]k^Am
k9bm%@@=D E92E 42? 96=Ak^9bm
kAm$9@AA6CD ?@H 92G6 >@C6 E@@=D E@ C6D62C49 2 AFC492D6[ q23:? D2:5[ 2?5 42? FD6 G:CEF2==J 2?J px E@@= E@ 9F?E 7@C 32C82:?D] u@C 2 DFDA:4:@FD >6DD286[ 96 C64@>>6?5D FD:?8 D42>\4964<:?8 C6D@FC46D E@Â 96=A 56E6C>:?6 H96E96C E96 @776C :D =68:E:>2E6]Â ~?6 6I2>A=6 :D $42>H:D6[ 2 7C66 D42>\4964<:?8 C6D@FC46 E92E 2==@HD FD6CD E@ DF3>:E D4C66?D9@ED[ E6IED 2?5 7@CH2C565 6>2:=D 7@C C6G:6H] q23:? ?@E65 E92E $42>H:D6 =:DED 72<6 @?=:?6 DE@C67C@?ED 2D E96 D42> :ED FD6CD 4964< >@DE @7E6?]k^Am
k9bmw@H E@ A2J[ 2?5 H92E E@ 5@ :7 J@FVC6 D42>>65k^9bm
kAmrC65:E 42C5D @776C E96 >@DE AC@E64E:@? 7@C @?=:?6 AFC492D6D[ q23:? D2:5[ E9@F89 E92E AC@E64E:@? G2C:6D 7C@> 42C5 E@ 42C5] w6 25G:D65 2G@:5:?8 H:C6 EC2?D76CD[ 5:8:E2= 8:7E 42C5D 2?5 4CJAE@4FCC6?4J]k^Am
kAm$9@AA6CD H9@ E9:?< E96JVG6 366? D42>>65 D9@F=5 24E BF:4<=J] %96 u656C2= %C256 r@>>:DD:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@?DF>6C]7E4]8@G^2CE:4=6D^H92E\5@\:7\J@F\H6C6\D42>>65Qm25G:D6Dk^2m 4@?E24E:?8 J@FC 4C65:E 42C5 :DDF6C @C 32?< C:89E 2H2J E@ C6BF6DE 2 C67F?5[ E96? C6A@CE:?8 E96 D42> 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C6A@CE7C2F5]7E4]8@G^Qm#6A@CEuC2F5]7E4]8@Gk^2m] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 u%r[ C6A@CED 7:=65 E96C6 2C6 D92C65 H:E9 7656C2=[ DE2E6 2?5 =@42= =2H 6?7@C46>6?E] %96 D:E6 @776CD 25G:46 @? H92E E@ 5@ ?6IE E@ C64@G6C J@FC >@?6J 2?5 AC@E64E J@FCD6=7]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]42>AFD:?D:89ED>65:2]4@>^6>365^$sBq`Bhwt%<}{CJ+$9*ebeGG(Dc5uby&Gs%5(A3A#;4^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2mk6>m H2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]42>AFD:?D:89ED>65:2]4@>^Qmk6>mr2>AFD x?D:89ED |65:2k^6>mk^2mk6>m @? 3692=7 @7 E96k^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@=6>:DD]65F^Qmk6>m&?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:DD:DD:AA:k^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am