It's holiday shopping time and scammers know it.
They're ready for you to explore unsecured sales sites and they want you to click on email and text links.
That's how they get your personal information or hack your computer.
The FBI is warning all of us: If you shop or do business online, beware.
Last year, agents say Arizona ranked 15th in the number of alleged scam victims, losing more than $59 million.
The number one scam involved transactions, either not getting what you ordered or not receiving payment for what you sold.
Special Agent Martin Hellmer says there are plenty of other ways scammers get you, including clicking on unknown links, downloading apps from unknown sources and falling for work from home scams to make extra holiday money.
He says one work from home scam could mean committing a crime.
It involves taking in funds, then transferring them somewhere else.
In some cases, he calls it money laundering.
To protect yourself:
- Only go to secure known websites
- Beware of links in Facebook posts or even from friends
- Check credit statements thoroughly for fraud
Click here to report fraud to the FBI.
