Wireless Wednesday: Holiday scams with Carolina Trejos

The holidays are a time for family and friends—but scammers will do everything they can to complicate your celebrations. Scammers work year-round but prey on the increase in online purchases and web usage during the holidays. Falling victim to a scam can often mean losing money that can’t be recovered—or worse, having your identity stolen, affecting your credit and general finances. It’s a time-consuming misfortune to experience.

Analysis of the Federal Trade Commission (the federal agency that works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices) data revealed significant disparities in scams and fraud cases among Latinos compared to the general population₁. Now that the holiday season is in full swing, so are the activities of scam artists looking to acquire YOUR personal information and money.

To help ensure you don’t get taken during this season of giving, on Thursday, December 12th, Journalist and Television Host Carolina Trejos will be available to share the most common scams seen during the holiday season and tips to avoid falling victim and identify them. She will also discuss the difference between fraud and scams and how being aware can help you avoid unnecessary stress during this festive time.

Rick talks to Carolina.

Some of the holiday scams discussed:

Holiday Charity Scams – According to a recent study from AARP, charity scams are the most common holiday scam. To avoid a charity scam, refrain from donating if a website or caller seeks payment only by wire transfer, gift card, or prepaid card—scam calls are frequently used to try and get your information over the phone.

Online Shopping Scams – Shopping online is so easy, especially during the busy holiday season. It’s also easy for scammers to extract information if you’re not protecting yourself.

Delivery Scams – As holiday packages are delivered around the country, scammers send out phishing emails disguised as UPS, FedEx, or U.S. Postal Service with a link to view your "missed deliveries." These links can lead to phony sign-in pages asking for personal information or websites infected with malware.

Topics:

What are the most common scams that happen around the holiday season?

How can people protect themselves from holiday scams?

If someone realizes they have been a victim of scams, what should they do?

Where can viewers go for more information?

For more information, visit: www.chase.com/es/personal/security-tips

When it comes to bilingual pop culture, no one is more connected to the pulse than Carolina Trejos. As the current host of American Latino TV show, the Colombian-born journalist shares her passion for storytelling on LATV Network’s longest-running production about extraordinary artists, actors & activists making an impact in the Latino Culture. Carolina is a tireless supporter of social entrepreneurship and women-empowerment projects. As the co-creator of the female empowerment brand “Pinkafé”, where together with her sister Natalia Trejos Herrera are honored to help other women to believe in themselves to make their dreams come true. Pinkafé’s brand has expanded to a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play. In 2020, she came strong with its own nationally televised TV show to share the stories of entrepreneurial women. Since 2016 was the face of People en Español’s People VIP, the first entertainment news show to be live-streamed for the magazine’s digital platform. She also worked behind the scenes to get the show off the ground to have it become one of the most recognized franchises at Meredith Corporation. At People VIP, Carolina hosted over 250 shows that included celebrity news, current events coverage, and interviews with A-listers like Jennifer López, Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro, Latin Grammy winner Chayanne, Spanish news icon Jorge Ramos and actress Roselyn Sánchez, as well as fashion, beauty, and lifestyle segments, positioning the show as a go-to entertainment show among Latino Americans.