The scams Christmas shoppers need to watch out for this year

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — While the holidays are a time for fun and cheer, they can also be a time for those more naughty than nice.

Saige Heigel is with the Better Business Bureau, and she says there are a variety of scams to look out for.

Some of the most popular scams from last year include misleading social media ads, social media gift exchanges that act like pyramid schemes, and holiday apps, which can have hidden purchases inside them.

Heigel said there’s a lot of money being spent that scammers are trying to target.

“The National Retail Federation predicts that about $1 trillion will be spent by Americans this season alone,” Heigel said. “So, of course, scammers are on the lookout for how they can get involved, too.”

Heigel said the #1 riskiest scam last year was temporary holiday jobs, where people looking for seasonal jobs have their money and personal information stolen by applying to a fake job.