‘Tis the season for online scammers, hackers, fraudsters and fake websites! How do you safely buy gifts and give to charitable organizations online, and what should you watch out for? 

Alma Galvan, Marketing and Communications Manager for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in Sacramento, has advice for everything related to holiday shopping and giving, including warnings about holiday “pop up stores” and why it’s best to shop with a credit versus a debit card.

Galvan also notes there are at least eighty fake companies the BBB is aware of operating in the Greater Sacramento area alone. Many, she says, are tied to ads posted on social media. You can check for scams at the BBB's Scam Tracker and can screen nonprofits before you donate at give.org.