Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is reminding Arizonans to watch out for possible scams while shopping this holiday season.

“Scammers also see the holidays as a wonderful time of the year and you never want to be on their list,” Brnovich said.

“Make responsible purchases and maintain the joy of the season.” He offers the following tips:

Do your research

•Use a business/retailer that you know or trust.

•Beware of unsolicited texts or emails that appear to be from a legitimate business but want you to click a link. Visit a website directly on your own and never from a link you have received.

•Always use trusted websites with reliable track records.

•Before making a purchase based on a social media ad or post, look into the company. Use a search engine to visit the company’s actual website or to search the company’s name with “scam,” “complaint,” or “review”

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by: Better Business Bureau of Eastern NC

Posted:

Updated:

RALEIGH, NC – The 2022 holiday shopping season promises to be an unpredictable one.

High inflation rates and increased prices of consumer goods are already throwing a wrench into holiday shopping. Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina (BBB) offers tips for consumers on how they can shop for the must-have holiday gifts, while keeping their personal information and finances safe.

Electronics, toys, and other products will be (or already are) in short supply, and retailers are struggling to staff up as the shopping season nears. Product shortages and increased online shopping are likely to result in even more online purchase scams this year. These scams accounted for nearly 40% of all scams reported to BBB Scam Tracker in 2021, according to the 2021 BBB Scam

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“The holiday season is right around the corner and shoppers are crowding stores and shopping online for the latest gadgets and to find the best deals,” said Sheriff Joey Lemons of Stokes County.

Shoppers also need to consider their safety when shopping in person and online. According to Lemons, “This time of year attracts more shopping-related criminal activity because of the larger crowds and the extended store hours. These factors, and the usual distraction of shopping, create a more favorable environment for petty thieves and other offenders.”

The sheriff reminds all Stokes County residents to follow several safety tips for both in-person and online shopping.

In-person shopping safety:

• A single shopper is the best target for theft. Always shop with a friend or relative.

• When going shopping, tell someone where you are going and what time to expect you to return. Also, make sure they know what you

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Despite the continued increase in online shopping, stores will be filled with folks seeking stocking stuffers and those must-haves for under the Christmas tree. In the hurried and harried pace, however, shoppers need to keep wise not only to their spending but also to their surroundings.

Chatham County Police Capt. Nicholas Ojanovac suggests these safety tips:

  • Park as close to the store as possible.
  • Double check that you’ve locked your vehicle.
  • Don’t leave packages in plain view.
  • Carry your purse close to your body.
  • Don’t leave your purse in the shopping cart.

“There’s instances of people walking up while you’re bent over into your trunk, distracting them by removing your purse from the cart without you even knowing,” said Ojanovac.

A Tybee Island Christmas ornament created by local artist Carolyn Spritz.  Spritz sells her items in shops such as the Tybee Cottage Art Gallery and Capital Bee on Broughton Street.

Over the past three years during the holiday shopping season from Nov. 1 through Jan. 1, CCPD respondents to 111 shoplifting cases — 29 of them from this year, thus

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We’re officially in the holiday shopping season! Now more than ever, Americans will be seeking out retailers with the best possible gift deals and looking for ways to save extra money on everything from making a holiday feast to booking travel. Follow our ultimate guide to 2022 holiday shopping and saving.

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Plan Ahead and Budget

Take the stress out of holiday spending, whether you shop in-person or online, by planning ahead using some of these smart spending strategies from experts.

  • Make a list. Lindsey Bell, chief markets and money strategist at Ally, recommends making a list before you head out to go shopping.
  • Set a holiday budget. Setting a holiday budget allows you to create itemized expenses, said Matthew Paxton, founder of Hypernia. Earmark a budget amount for each person on
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ZANESVILLE, Oh – Holiday shopping is in full swing, with many heading out to find those perfect gifts for everyone on their lists.

And the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office wants to ensure you tay safe as you head out to find all the jolly good deals,

Sheriff Matt Lutz says it all starts on the road, advising you to be patient, take your time, and expect delays on your trip to the store, especially with the added challenge of ongoing construction throughout the area.

Although he recommends shopping during the day, Sheriff Lutz knows that’s not always possible and recommends having a plan before you head out after dark and always parking in well lit areas, also adding you should manually lock your car instead of using the key fob.

“You know, just trying to be cognizant of what’s going on around you, familiar with your surroundings, and again just

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Shop Suncrest

When you want to know where to shop for the best selection and prices, you ask someone you trust, right? This year, we asked some of our favorite sources for you—then we sprinkled our own advice in, too. With our 2022 holiday shopping guide, you can make everyone on your list happy right here in town.

Michele Krucoff doesn’t just love Suncrest Towne Center because she works there—as a nearby resident, she finds it a convenient hub for everyday needs and for gifts.

when Suncrest Towne Centre opened in 2009, it quickly became a destination for wellness, dining—and, of course, shopping. Morgantown native Michele Krucoff joined the team there early on. After decades working with high-end retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City and Gucci in the Washington, DC, area, she set her sights on a move back home and started at STC in 2011. She

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Franklin Police Department is reporting an “alarming” number of cases where purses are being snatched.

Police across Middle Tennessee are warning shoppers to secure their bags and purses while out, especially during the holiday season

Ron Paisley — a security guard with decades of experience — said he thinks shoppers make the mistake of having a particular stereotype in their head about a criminal when it could be someone dressed in the best outfit.

“There could be a couple of guys in tennis shoes or someone well dressed. One person will act as a distraction and come up asking for a good place to eat dinner, while the other people are picking pockets or taking purses off shopping carts,” Paisley said.

Paisley suggests shoppers be aware of their surroundings the same way they drive.

“Even the smallest lady who is aware, she’s got her head

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Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

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Community favorites include Zojirushi‘s rice cooker and Canadian West boots. —Erin Schwartz

Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Rice Cooker
Spur Jewelry Custom Renovation

The concierge service Spur Jewelry will, for instance, turn an heirloom like a brooch into a chic necklace. —Jenna Miller-Waddell

Costco 18kt Yellow Gold Round Hoop Earrings
Mason Pearson Handy Bristle & Nylon Brush BN3
Diptyque Figuier Scented Oval

It’s surprisingly a luxurious thing to own. —Margaret Rhodes

Hellsher House 8

During colonial times, it was tradition to light one to ensure a prosperous year. (There’s even a poem about this: “A bayberry candle burnt to the socket brings food to the larder and gold to the pocket.”) —Caroline Weaver

Turn on notifications and grab one for the purse snob in your life. —JMW

i like Rose Theodora, Janelle Belgraveand Lisa Stardust. Everyone loves an opportunity to talk about themselves. —DP

InBloom Clean Green Protein Single-Serve Box Set

Its main ingredients include reishi mushroom (of course),

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MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau is offering shoppers tips ahead of the holiday shopping season.

The BBB said between high inflation rates and increased prices of consumer goodsthe 2022 shopping season promises to be an unpredictable one – including with new scams.

Electronics, toys and other products are in short supply, and retailers are trying to staff up as the shopping season gets closer, according to the BBB. It also said that retailers are expecting more people to shop online this year.

With products in high demand and online shopping increasing, the BBB is warning that there may be even more online purchasing scams this year. In 2021, these scams accounted for almost 40% of all scams reported to the BBB Scam Tracker in 2021.

The BBB recommends the following tips to shop smart and safely this holiday season:

  • Research before you buy. Use
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