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Volume 25 Number 12
NEW s Six inute m ! Comdded me A to co e
Mor
December 2024
Your COMMUNITY... Your NEWSPAPER
Christmas Feature Section Pages 5-7
Preying on holiday spirit: BBB warns consumers to stay diligent against decoration scams
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As residents transition from Halloween to Christmas decorations, there are a few things they should keep in mind
he Better Business Bureau is warning consumers in Saskatchewan to check twice before ordering decorations this holiday season. Scammers become increasingly successful during this time and love to prey on homeowners’ holiday spirit. The holiday decoration scam is variable, but often fools its victims with photos of large, professional-looking displays, only to deliver something small and poorly made – or nothing at all. Those whose social media algorithms are full of holiday ideas may be particularly susceptible. From there, they may see an ad or click on a link that looks real and contains positive reviews but is all fabricated. Enticed by the sophisticated look of it all, shoppers are lured into giving payment information to a scammer. The scammers may go on to overcharge the customers, sell their personal information, or simply send back a product that is not as advertised. From here, the shopper has little recourse and often cannot get a hold of the company in question.
In order to stay clear of these scams, the BBB of Central Canada offers the following advice. PREVENTION TIPS 1. Check third-party sources before you buy. A website can contain any information its creator wants. Be sure the company is legitimate and the site you’re on is their verified platform by searching the company’s name on bbb.org. You can also look for working contact information and double check their physical location with an online map. 2. Be wary of high-value items advertised for low prices. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Any decorations that contain lights and technology must price themselves appropriately or you may wind up with an item that works once or barely emits any light at all.
Election 2024
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3. Don’t purchase something directly from social media. With one-click purchases and payment methods stored on our phones, it’s become extremely easy to buy items without fully thinking it through. Don’t let your desire to have a pictured product take over. You may think it’s so cheap, that it doesn’t matter much even if it is a scam, but scammers may charge your credit card however much they want once they have its information. 4. Use your credit card when shopping online. Many credit card companies let you dispute fraudulent charges and thus offer a second layer of protection. If the company doesn’t accept credit cards, but is looking for a direct transfer, a prepaid gift card, a digital wallet payment or cryptocurrency, it could be a scam. WEB LINKS Go to BBB.org/ScamTracker to report a scam. Learn more about other risky scams on BBB.org/ScamTips and visit our news feed.
Results Page 3
Contact Us .................... p. 2
Council Reports ................ p. 4 Agriculture Reports ........ p. 10
January Issue Deadline
Down the Road ................ p. 2
Nick Kossovan .................. p. 5 Local Businesses ............. p. 11
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M.P. Report .................... p. 3
Community Reports ......... p. 8 Business Directory .......... p. 12
Friday January 10th 2025
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