FBI Warns Colorado: Watch For Both Of These Holiday Scams

If you shop online in Colorado, you need to take precautions to protect your personal information no matter where you are. The holidays are a fun time of year, but they are also a very busy time of year for criminals. Especially criminals who are online.

The FBI issued a warning to consumers in all 50 states about the growing risks of online fraud during the holidays, including two scams that seem to be more common than others this year.

Get our free mobile app

Know Your Alert Codes

Stay safe while you shop this holiday season by staying familiar with the color-coded safety messages you might hear in a store or shopping center. Tap the link below to recap the seven most common color-coded alerts.

Read More: If You Hear Code Brown Over a Colorado Intercom, Get Out Now

FBI Warns Colorado: Watch Out for Holiday Romance

The holidays are such a fun time of year, especially if you have a fun family to spend them with. If you are single, it can be a lonely time and scammers know it. Romance scams go through the roof this time of year with the targets being single folks on dating websites and social media.

The FBI says the romance scammer tries to quickly connect with a person and fast-track a serious relationship. Eventually, an emergency comes along and suddenly they need to borrow money. The FBI says to be careful this holiday season when someone you meet online asks for money or personal information.

FBI Warns Colorado: Holiday Ransomware

Ransomware is an online scam that online shoppers can fall for when they are in a hurry. Allowing software or malware onto your machine can get you locked out, having to pay piles of cash you get your access back. Malware can lock you out of your computer, ruin your computer and files, and send your private info to others.

The FBI says now is the time to make sure you keep your online security updated. Avoid suspicious websites or clicking on unknown links. Emails demanding you “urgently” click a URL are common this time of year. Do not fall for a link you do not know. Anyone who feels they may have been the victim of an online crime or scam should report the information to the FBI at www.ic3.gov.