The holiday season is in full-swing and you’ve probably even started your holiday shopping here in New Orleans. While you’re out and about, checking e-mails or even downloading apps on your Smartphone to get the best deals around, make sure you are wary of your surroundings, who you are buying from and where you are offering your credit card information. Here are some specific holiday crimes that you should watch out for while you are out and about shopping for your loved ones:
• Park In a Well Lit Parking Spot: If you plan to go to a mall this holiday season for your shopping, or another large department store such as Wal-Mart, consider driving around for a parking spot in a well-lit area. And, be mindful that the sun goes down close to 5 p.m. these days so if you plan to shop for a few hours and your car unexpectedly happens to be in a dark parking spot when you come out, ask a mall or store security guard to help walk you to your car. The holiday time can be a time for thieves to prey on people who seem distracted by shopping and the stress the holiday season can sometimes bring.
• Remember Your Locks: Locking your vehicle while you are out shopping, while you’re home and while you’re at the office is important, especially around the holidays. If you plan to go holiday shopping at multiple stores without making a stop at home, consider putting your bags in the trunk of the car. If you have an open trunk, such as in an SUV or a Hatchback, and you don’t have a cover to cover everything, then consider bringing a blanket with you while you shop. This way, you can cover your shopping bags while you jump into another store thus making you less of a chance to become a victim.
• Credit Card Frauds: There are many types of credit card frauds around the holiday season.
• Online Shopping
• If you do online shopping, beware of fraud websites. If you think a deal is too good to be true – it’s possible that it is. There are some websites out there whose sole purpose is to steal your credit card information from the website. It can also be called cybersquatting, which is when a criminal will slightly alter a website address of a well-known company to launch an identical website to the real thing. I’ve seen this happen before to well-known companies, though I’m not sure how they get away with it. They are set up to steal your credit card information.
• Charitable Donations
• Unless you have previously provided your e-mail address to a non-profit or charity, then the e-mail you received asking for a donation is probably not from a legit non-profit. There are many scammers out there asking for donations for their “charity,” but in actuality these are also credit card scammers…waiting to take your money and possibly your credit card information as well.
• Downloadable Apps
• In this day and age, mobile apps are all the rage. Some are free, many are not. Be wary of what you download. Make sure you read the reviews, and research the maker of the app online. There are companies that create apps with the sole intention of stealing your credit card information.
• Credit Card Skimming
• A credit card skimmer is a device that is installed on a machine that accepts a credit card such as an ATM or gas station pump and sometimes, especially around the holidays, small enough to fit in someone’s pocket. A thief can use it at a cash register, or at a free-standing shop that might use the iPad’s Square device. Basically, it’s a faceplate that reads your credit card information when you dip the card into the machine or it is swiped. Whenever you are at an ATM or entering your pin somewhere, make sure to 1) cover the keypad with your hand so no one can see you type your PIN in 2) never take your eyes off your credit card if you hand it over to a cashier or someone you don’t know 3) check your bank statements regularly, and online if possible.
• Drinking and Driving at the Holidays: The holidays are a joyous time for many and parties, upon parties, upon parties, are happening. It’s almost every day. It’s fun. It’s partying. It’s drinking. It’s…somehow getting home. New Orleans does have sobriety checkpoints periodically, and it is always illegal to drive with a BAC over .08. New Orleans offers taxi drivers, the street car and the RTA bus system. Use it. And, if you do get pulled over and booked for DUI this holiday season, remember you can and should call a DUI lawyer as soon as possible. Crescent City Law is available day and night, including a free consultation at (504) 264-9492.
Are you a Victim of Credit Card Fraud or Theft? If you think that you have become a victim of credit card fraud, credit card skimming or theft this holiday season, an experienced criminal defense attorney in New Orleans at Crescent City Law can help reduce the stress at this difficult time. If you or someone you know has been charged with DUI or reckless driving, it is imperative to speak with a Louisiana DUI lawyer. I encourage you to contact me by e-mail or by calling (504) 264-9492. My experience and thoroughness with holiday crimes can help you get through the holiday season with less stress and more time to spend with your family.
