SCAMMERS AND FRAUDSTERS LOVE THE HOLIDAY SEASON!

It’s that time of year again when we make our lists and get our holiday shopping done. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that there are more fake shopping sites popping up every day, associated with ads you see on social media feeds especially. But buyers beware! Sites use identical logos and product photos to lure shoppers in, but you won’t be receiving products from legitimate businesses.

The FTC suggests you:

SCAMMERS ARE BUSY ALL YEAR ‘ROUND

Did you know the FBI received more than 2,400 reports a day about internet crimes last year that resulted in more than $15 billion in losses for consumers? Also in 2023, complaints to the FTC accounted for another $10 billion in fraud losses. And those are just the frauds and scams that are actually reported. Most victims never report the crime, either because they don’t think it is an actual crime or because they are embarrassed to have been a target.

According to the FTC, younger people (ages 20-29) are more likely to report fraud these days. But when people ages 70 and older had a loss and reported it, the median loss was three times higher that the loss for the 20-29 year olds. No matter your age, I want to help protect you and your loved ones from scams and frauds every day of the year.

ARE YOU #WINTERREADY?

Winter is here and FEMA wants to make sure we’re all prepared to get through extreme cold and unpredictable weather. To be #winterready, they suggest that you:

1. Know your risks by paying attention to weather reports and storm warnings.
2. Create a winter emergency kit for home, work and on the go. If you have a vehicle, make sure you have jumper cables and sand, a flashlight and warm clothes, water, blankets and non-perishable snacks. And try to keep your gas tank nearly full and your battery charged.
3. Make an emergency plan so you and your loved ones can stay connected in case of an emergency. Also, check in on your neighbors and friends to make sure they are prepared too.
4. Get your home ready by insulating your pipes, sealing up any drafty windows and checking your heating systems. Most home fires occur in the wintertime, and home heating systems are the second leading cause of these fires! If you don’t have them, get some smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups.
5. If you’re traveling during bad weather, use extra caution on the road. Remember that it takes more time to slow down or stop on icy surfaces. Carry an emergency kit in your vehicle too. Don’t forget the snacks!

Serving as our community's representative is the honor of my lifetime, and I hope to hear from you soon about any issue that concerns you. 

As always, please contact my office if you need assistance.

Be well, and see you soon!

Chrissy Houlahan

U.S. Member of Congress

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