Holiday shopping scams are getting harder to detect. Here's how to protect yourself Mark Miano for Campus Insights Media on behalf of the University of Mississippi Nov 12, 2026 Nov 12, 2026 Updated 18 hrs ago 0 A woman with a confused expression pays for a hotel booking online with her credit card. Antonio Guillem // Shutterstock Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Mark Miano for Campus Insights Media on behalf of the University of Mississippi kAmp>6C:42?D 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ DA6?5 >@C6 E92? 6G6C @? 9@=:52J D9@AA:?8 E9:D J62C[ 2?5 E96 D42>D 2:>65 2E E96> 2C6 86EE:?8 92C56C E@ DA@E] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@=6>:DD]65F^AC@7:=6D^3;323:?n:5l3;323:?Qmq2CCJ y] q23:?k^2m[ E96 !9:= q] w2C5:? r92:C 2?5 s:DE:?8F:D965 !C@76DD@C @7 |2C<6E:?8 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:DD:DD:AA:[ D2:5 E96 }2E:@?2= #6E2:= u656C2E:@? 6IA64ED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?C7]4@>^>65:2\46?E6C^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^?C7\7@C642DED\a_ae\9@=:52J\D2=6D\8C@HE9\2D\4@?DF>6CD\C6>2:?\C6D:=:6?EQm}@G6>36C 2?5 s646>36C DA6?5:?8 E@ E@A S` EC:==:@?k^2m 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6[ H:E9 8C@HE9 @7 c]aT] $@>6 @E96C 7@C642DED[ 96 D2:5[ AC@;64E 8C@HE9 2D 9:89 2D d]dT]k^Am People are also reading… Atrium Health Cabarrus marks milestone in $130 million hospital expansion Longer wait for Buc-ee’s: Mebane opening delayed until at least early 2028 Grace Church Concord breaks ground on new worship center after three years of growth Concord's District Exchange to be featured on PBS North Carolina's 'NC Weekend' Salisbury man found guilty of murder in death of infant born prematurely at Concord hospital Rowan-Cabarrus Community College weighs next steps after voters reject $60 million bond Dryer fire damages Concord home, displaces residents Cabarrus County announces Veterans Day ceremony, closures for Nov. 11 Have tattoos? You can get a BOGO entree at Chipotle on Friday the 13th With 5th District race undecided, Foxx requests observers to monitor vote count Cabarrus EMS to host free life and end-of-life planning event Nov. 14 Studs and duds from Carolina Panthers' Week 9 loss to Broncos Foxx's reelection fate may come down to nearly 3,000 provisional ballots Harrisburg Town Council appoints Jim Eskew to fill seat left vacant by Chris Faw's death Volunteers to paint holiday scenes on downtown Concord storefronts kAmQr@?DF>6CD 2C6 DA6?5:?8 2?5 E96JVC6 DA6?5:?8 42C67F==J[Q q23:? D2:5] QqFE E96J 2C6 8@:?8 E@ DA6?5]Q $9@AA:?8 42C67F==J :D 86EE:?8 92C56C[ E9@F89[ 2D 72<6 DE@C67C@?ED[ 72<6 C6G:6HD 2?5 DA@@765 EC2G6= D:E6D 8C@H >@C6 4@?G:?4:?8]k^AmkAmq23:? D92C65 25G:46 H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]42>AFD:?D:89ED>65:2]4@>^Qmr2>AFD x?D:89ED |65:2k^2m @? DE2J:?8 D276 E9:D 9@=:52J D62D@?[ DE2CE:?8 H:E9 D<:AA:?8 E96 4=:4<\E9C@F89]k^Amk9bm(9J E96 72<6D 2C6 92C56C E@ DA@Ek^9bm kAmQ%96 >@DE 7F?52>6?E2= 5:776C6?46 :D E92E E96 E649?@=@8J 7@C 72<:?8 E9:?8D :D >F49 36EE6C 2== E96 E:>6[Q q23:? D2:5] $42>>6CD 42? BF:4<=J =2F?49 72<6 3C2?5 >6DD286D[ 72<6 DE@C67C@?ED 2?5 72<6 C6G:6HD :? =2C86C ?F>36CD E92? 6G6C 367@C6] x>AC@G6>6?ED :? E649?@=@8J 92G6 2=D@ >256 :E 92C56C E@ 5:DE:?8F:D9 C62= 7C@> 72<6] qFE D9@AA6CD 2=D@ 92G6 >@C6 2?5 36EE6C E649?@=@8J E@ ECJ E@ 56E64E D42>D] QxEVD 5:77:4F=E E@ <?@H H9@ :D H:??:?8 E92E C246[Q q23:? D2:5]k^Am kAmp k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D42>H:D6]4@>^9@=:52J\D42>\C6A@CE\a_aeQm9@=:52J C6A@CE 7C@> $42>H:D6k^2m[ 2 7C66 D42>\4964<:?8 E@@= >256 3J $2G: $64FC:EJ[ @776CD 2 =@@< 2E E96 D42>>6CDV D:56 @7 E92E C246] %96 4@>A2?J 2?2=JK65 >@C6 E92? ad_[___ D9@AA:?8 D:E6D E92E A6@A=6 DF3>:EE65 E@ :ED 4964<6C 7C@> |2C49 E9C@F89 ~4E@36C a_ae[ 2?5 7@F?5 D42>>6CD 3F:=5:?8 72<6 DE@C6D >F49 =:<6 C62= C6E2:=6CD 5@] px\86?6C2E65 4@?E6?E[ H9:49 2AA62C65 @? fcT @7 D42> DE@C6D[ =6ED 2 DE@C6 H:E9 ?@ C62= :?G6?E@CJ 7:== 9F?5C65D @7 AC@5F4E A286D @G6C?:89E] |@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 E96 72<6 DE@C6D H6C6 9@DE65 @? H6==\<?@H? 6\4@>>6C46 A=2E7@C>D[ 3@CC@H:?8 E96 A=2E7@C>D’ 4C65:3:=:EJ[ 2?5 2E =62DE @?6 :? 7:G6 4@F=5 36 EC2465 324< E@ 2? 25 @? 2 >2;@C D62C49 @C D@4:2= >65:2 A=2E7@C>]k^Am kAm%96 72<6 DE@C6D 2=D@ 5@?VE DE2J FA =@?8] %96J 4@==64E A2J>6?ED 2?5 5:D2AA62C[ @7E6? 367@C6 2?J@?6 42? EC246 E96>[ 2?5 f :? `_ H6C6 @77=:?6 H:E9:? h_ 52JD @7 36:?8 4964<65 H:E9 $42>H:D6] }6H @?6D BF:4<=J E2<6 E96:C A=246] $42>H:D6 FD6CD 7=28 2 ?6G6C\367@C6\D66? 72<6 DE@C6 C@F89=J 6G6CJ E9C66 >:?FE6D[ @C 23@FE d__ 2 52J] %96 ?F>36C @7 72<6 9@=:52J\E96>65 DE@C6D DF3>:EE65 E@ E96 E@@= 8C6H 7:G67@=5 7C@> pF8FDE E@ ~4E@36C] %96 7:8FC6D C67=64E H92E E96 E@@=VD @H? FD6CD DF3>:EE65[ ?@E 2 4@F?E @7 6G6CJ 72<6 DE@C6 @?=:?6]k^Am kAm~?=:?6 C6G:6HD 42== 7@C 42FE:@?[ E@@] tG6? p>2K@?[ H9:49 92D E9@FD2?5D @7 H@C<6CD ECJ:?8 E@ >2<6 DFC6 :ED C6G:6HD 2C6 =68:E:>2E6[ DE:== 92D 72<6 C6G:6HD D=:AA:?8 E9C@F89[ q23:? D2:5] p>2K@? :ED6=7 D2JD :E DE@AA65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^ECFDEH@CE9JD9@AA:?8]23@FE2>2K@?]4@>^9@H\2>2K@?\>2:?E2:?D\2\ECFDE65\C6G:6H\6IA6C:6?46Qm>@C6 E92? ad_ >:==:@? DFDA64E65 72<6 C6G:6HDk^2m :? a_ab 2=@?6]k^Am k9bm%96 D42>D E@ H2E49 7@C E9:D D62D@?k^9bmkAmq23:? A@:?E65 D9@AA6CD E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]73:]8@G^9@H\H6\42?\96=A\J@F^4@>>@?\7C2F5D\2?5\D42>D^9@=:52J\D42>DQmuqxVD =:DE @7 4@>>@? 9@=:52J D42>Dk^2m] p>@?8 E96>ik^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6haa272ea3eg4hd2cah365`6cagebb25gQm}@?\56=:G6CJ D42>D[ :? H9:49 2 AFC492D6 ?6G6C 2CC:G6D]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6ahd_b426cda5be`h666g`b7`b3_6ade2QmpF4E:@? 7C2F5[ :? H9:49 2 AC@5F4E :D >:DC6AC6D6?E65]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6556f3h4ed774c4bea3b`hb5535ed2b_4Qmv:7E 42C5 7C2F5[ :? H9:49 D@>6@?6 A@D:?8 2D 2 >6C492?E 2D<D J@F E@ A2J H:E9 2 AC6A2:5 8:7E 42C5 2?5 E96? DE62=D E96 7F?5D]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6c52bda5h34a5bg`3acec5gg22g7ha4c3Qm!2J>6?E D42>D 2:>65 2E D6==6CD[ :? H9:49 3FJ6CD FD6 G2C:@FD EC:4<D E@ 2G@:5 A2J:?8 7@C 8@@5D 2?5 D6CG:46D]k^=:mk^F=m kAm$9@AA6CD D9@F=5 2=D@ 36 H2CJ @7 72<6 DE@C67C@?ED 2?5 72<6 EC2G6= 286?ED[ q23:? D2:5[ 2?5 EC2G6= :D 2 A2CE:4F=2C 4@?46C?] Qx7 D@>6@?6 :D =@@<:?8 E@ G242E:@? E9:D 9@=:52J D62D@?[ E96J ?665 E@ <?@H E96J >2J ?@E 2=H2JD 36 EC2?D24E:?8 H:E9 E96 D6CG:46 AC@G:56C]Qk^AmkAmw6 @776C65 2? 6I2>A=6] p EC2G6=6C ECJ:?8 E@ 3@@< 2 C@@> 2E E96 w:=E@? :? $2G2??29 >:89E =2?5 @? 2 D:E6 E92E =@@<D =:<6 E96 9@E6=VD @H? 3FE :D 24EF2==J 2 DA@@7 CF? 3J 2? @?=:?6 EC2G6= 286?4J[ H9:49 >2J @C >2J ?@E 36 =68:E:>2E6] p? :>286 E92E =@@<D 4@A:65 @C 5@4E@C65 42? 36 2 D:8? E92E J@FVC6 @? 2 DA@@7 D:E6[ 96 D2:5] $9@AA6CD D9@F=5 >2<6 E96:C 36DE 677@CE E@ 562= H:E9 E96 4@>A2?J 5:C64E=J C2E96C E92? E9C@F89 2? :?E6C>65:2CJ]k^Am k9bm$<:A E96 4=:4<\E9C@F89k^9bm kAmq23:? 4@>A2C65 E96 AC@3=6> E@ E96 D64FC:EJ EC2:?:?8 >2?J 6>A=@J6CD C6BF:C6[ H9:49 :?4=F56D 8F:52?46 @? H9:49 6>2:=D E@ ECFDE 2?5 H9:49 =:?<D E@ 4=:4<] r@?DF>6CD 7246 E96 D2>6 C:D<D 3FE 5@?VE 2=H2JD 86E E92E EC2:?:?8] Qq6 G6CJ H2CJ @7 4=:4<\E9C@F89[Q q23:? D2:5] x7 J@F D66 2 8@@5 @776C 7C@> 2 C6E2:=6C J@F <?@H[ 8@ E@ E92E C6E2:=6CVD H63D:E6 @? J@FC @H?[ H:E9@FE 4=:4<:?8 E96 =:?<[ 2?5 4964< H96E96C E96 @776C :D E96C6]k^AmkAm$9@AA6CD D9@F=5 8@ 5:C64E=J E@ 2 C6AFE23=6[ 2FE96?E:4 H63D:E6 @C 2AA[ 96 D2:5[ 2?5 4@?D:56C 3FJ:?8 :? A6CD@? H96? E96 D2>6 @776C :D 2G2:=23=6 :? DE@C6D] w6 D66D 2 EC6?5 324< E@H2C5 :?\DE@C6 D9@AA:?8 2D A6@A=6 =@@< 7@C 2FE96?E:4 6IA6C:6?46D[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C 9:89\E:4<6E 2?5 =FIFCJ :E6>D] qFJ:?8 @?=:?6[ 96 D2:5[ 6IA@D6D A6@A=6 E@ 7C2F5 >F49 >@C6 E92? 3FJ:?8 7C@> 2 =68:E:>2E6 C6E2:=6C :? 2 DE@C6]k^Am k9bm%@@=D E92E 42? 96=Ak^9bmkAm$9@AA6CD ?@H 92G6 >@C6 E@@=D E@ C6D62C49 2 AFC492D6[ q23:? D2:5[ 2?5 42? FD6 G:CEF2==J 2?J px E@@= E@ 9F?E 7@C 32C82:?D] u@C 2 DFDA:4:@FD >6DD286[ 96 C64@>>6?5D FD:?8 D42>\4964<:?8 C6D@FC46D E@ 96=A 56E6C>:?6 H96E96C E96 @776C :D =68:E:>2E6] ~?6 6I2>A=6 :D $42>H:D6[ 2 7C66 D42>\4964<:?8 C6D@FC46 E92E 2==@HD FD6CD E@ DF3>:E D4C66?D9@ED[ E6IED 2?5 7@CH2C565 6>2:=D 7@C C6G:6H] q23:? ?@E65 E92E $42>H:D6 =:DED 72<6 @?=:?6 DE@C67C@?ED 2D E96 D42> :ED FD6CD 4964< >@DE @7E6?]k^Am k9bmw@H E@ A2J[ 2?5 H92E E@ 5@ :7 J@FVC6 D42>>65k^9bm kAmrC65:E 42C5D @776C E96 >@DE AC@E64E:@? 7@C @?=:?6 AFC492D6D[ q23:? D2:5[ E9@F89 E92E AC@E64E:@? G2C:6D 7C@> 42C5 E@ 42C5] w6 25G:D65 2G@:5:?8 H:C6 EC2?D76CD[ 5:8:E2= 8:7E 42C5D 2?5 4CJAE@4FCC6?4J]k^Am kAm$9@AA6CD H9@ E9:?< E96JVG6 366? D42>>65 D9@F=5 24E BF:4<=J] %96 u656C2= %C256 r@>>:DD:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@?DF>6C]7E4]8@G^2CE:4=6D^H92E\5@\:7\J@F\H6C6\D42>>65Qm25G:D6Dk^2m 4@?E24E:?8 J@FC 4C65:E 42C5 :DDF6C @C 32?< C:89E 2H2J E@ C6BF6DE 2 C67F?5[ E96? C6A@CE:?8 E96 D42> 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C6A@CE7C2F5]7E4]8@G^Qm#6A@CEuC2F5]7E4]8@Gk^2m] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 u%r[ C6A@CED 7:=65 E96C6 2C6 D92C65 H:E9 7656C2=[ DE2E6 2?5 =@42= =2H 6?7@C46>6?E] %96 D:E6 @776CD 25G:46 @? H92E E@ 5@ ?6IE E@ C64@G6C J@FC >@?6J 2?5 AC@E64E J@FCD6=7]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]42>AFD:?D:89ED>65:2]4@>^6>365^$sBq`Bhwt%<}{CJ+$9*ebeGG(Dc5uby&Gs%5(A3A#;4^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2mk6>m H2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]42>AFD:?D:89ED>65:2]4@>^Qmk6>mr2>AFD x?D:89ED |65:2k^6>mk^2mk6>m @? 3692=7 @7 E96k^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@=6>:DD]65F^Qmk6>m&?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:DD:DD:AA:k^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am 0 Comments Originally published on campusinsightsmedia.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Susan Smith seeks release 32 years after killing sons More than three decades ago, she drowned her two young sons and fabricated a story that riveted the nation. Criticism grows over Ramaswamy attack ad featuring Amy Acton's mother Condemnation is growing against Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy over an attack ad that featured his opponent's estrang… Pete Hegseth avoids impeachment vote despite growing GOP frustration Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, who introduced the articles of impeachment against Hegseth, was the sole Republican to vote in favor of procee… Trump administration to cut food stamps for 6.3 million people More than 5.5 million people already lost SNAP benefits since Trump enacted cuts to the program in his July 2025 tax law, dropping enrollment … How would impeaching Pentagon chief Hegseth work? Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could be impeached by the House of Representatives this week on charges of abusing his power, including by goin… Watch Now: Related Video Hegseth scolded by security at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Scott Colom becomes Mississippi's first Black senator since Reconstruction Scott Colom becomes Mississippi's first Black senator since Reconstruction Is there a way out of Iran war? | This Is America Is there a way out of Iran war? | This Is America 11-month-old baby found buried alive in dog crate 11-month-old baby found buried alive in dog crate
Susan Smith seeks release 32 years after killing sons More than three decades ago, she drowned her two young sons and fabricated a story that riveted the nation.
Criticism grows over Ramaswamy attack ad featuring Amy Acton's mother Condemnation is growing against Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy over an attack ad that featured his opponent's estrang…
Pete Hegseth avoids impeachment vote despite growing GOP frustration Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, who introduced the articles of impeachment against Hegseth, was the sole Republican to vote in favor of procee…
Trump administration to cut food stamps for 6.3 million people More than 5.5 million people already lost SNAP benefits since Trump enacted cuts to the program in his July 2025 tax law, dropping enrollment …
How would impeaching Pentagon chief Hegseth work? Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could be impeached by the House of Representatives this week on charges of abusing his power, including by goin…