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Phishing scam targets fake receipt emails

Posted at 5:02 PM, Dec 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-06 06:53:19-05

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) -- — An old scam with a new twist during the holiday season. Many make more purchases in december than any other time of year, and criminals are trying to get you to dispute fake charges.

The Federal Trade Commission says scammers posing as well-known financial and tech companies, like Paypal or Apple, are sending fake invoices saying you recently purchased an item or subscription. They typically give a short period of time to respond... The email asks you to click on the link to dispute or cancel the purchase. If you click they try to steal your information, and possibly your money.

Jessie Polson has represented people in consumer protection cases and says they may look real but one easy step could save you a lot of headache.

"If you get something and you're unsure about it call the company. They're always willing to answer your questions and know if it is something you need to act on, or if it's something that you should just delete and not even open," Polson explained.

Experts suggest checking the email address to see if it's legit, look for bad grammar, and examine the link they want you to click.

Paypal has a link to get more information on spotting phishing scams related to their website.

The FTC has tips on how to keep your information secure.