Celebrate a Scam-Free Valentine's Day

As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, the Office of Consumer Protection is urging residents to stay safe and to be aware of scams as they prepare to celebrate with their loved ones.

To help you celebrate safely, here are a few useful tips to look our for:

• E-mail Cards: This may be cute and even funny to read but can be a way to obtain your information. Be careful opening a Valentine’s Day eCard it could be a phishing scheme to obtain your personal information or to infect your computer with spyware. Do not open non-personal e-mails, e.g. “from your secret admirer.” Only open e-mail from people you know and trust.

• Don't Click E-Mail Links: Be cautious about following links that look as if they were sent by a friend. If you follow these links, it may be from a  phony e-mail is one of the oldest methods for perpetrating online scams. Don't be fooled by messages in your inbox offering enticing sales at known sites and then clicking away only to land on a scam site. To avoid being scammed, open up your web browser, enter the URL to the site offering the discounts you're looking for and do a search for the items yourself.

• Secure Your Purchase: Make sure your purchase is secure by entering your credit card information on pages that use secure sockets layer security (SSLS). Secure your page by checking to see that the URL for the page begins with "https://" and not "http://." The "s" lets you know the site is secure. Most browsers will also show a lock icon in the lower right corner of the browser window to let you know you're on a secure site.

• Use Familiar Websites: Start at a trusted site rather than shopping with a search engine. Search results can be rigged to lead you astray or when you drift past the first few pages of links. If you know the site, chances are it's less likely to be a rip off.

• Online Dating: Proceed with caution after meeting the perfect mate. Scam artists often create fake profiles to lure people into revealing personal information, or to ask for money because they are sick or have a relative who needs emergency medical attention. Be wary of free dating sites as they may offer less monitoring and protection than those that charge a fee.

For additional information on consumer issues, please contact the Office of Consumer Protection by calling 240.777.3636 or by e-mail at consumerprotection@montgomerycountymd.gov.