Internet Scams

Nobody knows this better than me. I was in a restaurant and was trying to remember somebody's telephone number, found out that I couldn't and saw an online site that said they would look up any number I needed for $1. I put in my credit card, never got the number and ended up getting a bill for $140 with recurring charges of $24.99 a month.

Online purchasing makes holiday shopping easier, particularly for rural residents, but it doesn't make shopping more secure. Cyber scams are rampant during the holiday season. Sean Voskuhl, with AARP says you should stay vigilant when shopping online during the holidays, and throughout the year. When ordering holiday items online, Voskuhl says, make sure the website you are purchasing from is reputable. With many in the mood to give back this holiday season, he says make sure your donations are going to a worthy cause.

AARP offers year-round tips on this topic, and others of interest to rural America. Learn more holiday scam tips online at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or watch for AARP live on RFD-TV.