Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1513133
Page 16 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, December 14-December 20, 2023 293 S Broadway St., Forest City 828-245-0434 Monday & Tuesday 8AM-5PM Thursday & Friday 8AM-5PM Sat. 8AM-12PM • Closed Wed. Not Just Oil, Pennzoil FAST FAST FAST FAST WAY WAY WAY WAY LET US DO YOUR DIRTY WORK! KIDS' CORNER BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Rutherford Weekly's publisher and its advertisers are not responsible or liable for misprints, typographical errors, misinforma- tion herein contained. We reserve the right to edit, reject or accept any articles, advertisements, or infor- mation to be printed in this publication. We will provide ad proofs for pre-paid ads or ads that are placed by established clients. No proofs may leave our premises without payment and permission and are copyright by Rutherford Weekly. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher. CANCELLATION OR CORRECTION DEADLINE: is the same as the order deadline because much of our cost is involved in the production of the ad itself. If you have to cancel an ad after deadline, it may be necessary to charge for the time and materials we've spent on preparing the ad. Display & Classified Deadline is Tuesday at 3pm. ERRORS: We want your ad to be accurate and correct, and normally there will be no errors. However, should there be an error and it is our fault, we will give you a correction letter and return (and/or give credit) for the actual space occupied by the incorrect information. You should notify us of the error immediately and before the ad runs a second time. COPIES: ONE Free copy of Rutherford Weekly is available per household. Additional copies are available at our office for a $1.00 charge. No individual or business is permitted to place or attach any flyer, poster or any type of advertisement of any kind to our boxes or on our racks. FIRST MEDIA, INC FIRST MEDIA, INC "Creating Business For People" ® Proud Member of: Association of Community Publishers CIRCULATION C O U N C I L VERIFICATION Audit by Circulation Verification Council Display Advertising: Mayra Littman • mayra@cfmedia.info advertising@rutherfordweekly.com advertising@rutherfordweekly.com Editorial & Announcements: events@rutherfordweekly.co events@rutherfordweekly.com For Classified Ads Call 828-248-1408 or email: classifieds@rutherfordweekly.com classifieds@rutherfordweekly.com Creative Director: Jan B. Cook advertising@rutherfordweekly.com advertising@rutherfordweekly.com Distribution: Tommy Sims • Greg Grimes RUTHERFORD WEEKLY 157 West Main Street, Forest City, NC 28043 Phone 828-248-1408 Visit us online at: rutherfordweekly.com Some consumers have recently been getting text messages stating a major delivery carrier needs them to "update delivery preferences" on a package by clicking on a link. The problem? The text is a scam, and the link results in theft of personal information. Most consumers love the convenience of making purchases online and having them shipped straight to their doorstep. But with millions of packages delivered each year, con artists and thieves have developed many ways to steal from shoppers. Fortunately, there are also many ways to protect yourself from their shady tactics. Popular Delivery Scams Delivery scams and theft are particularly prevalent at the holidays, when more packages are being shipped, but they can happen year round. Scammers are hoping shoppers are busy or distracted and will act without thinking. The fi rst scam to look out for are phishing texts or emails that pose as offi cial notices from delivery companies. These either contain a "tracking link" or a message that the shipper is having diffi culty delivering a package to you, or most recently, a link to update delivery preferences. Clicking the link either takes you to a form that asks for personally identifying information, or to a site that downloads malware onto your computer. Another delivery scam involves fake "missed delivery" tags. Scammers place a note on your door that claims they are having challenges delivering a package to you. They ask you to call a phone number to reschedule your delivery, but it's really a ruse to get your personal information. Another issue shoppers face is package theft. Many consumers have had their packages stolen before they arrive home from work. Thieves snatch packages from doorsteps or lobbies of apartment or condo complexes. Criminals even follow delivery and postal trucks. When the truck leaves, the crooks move in and grab the parcels. How to Avoid Delivery Scams: 1. Take precautions to ensure a safe delivery. If you are having a valuable or fragile item delivered to your home, purchase shipping insurance. In addition, always get tracking numbers for your purchases and check the shipping progress periodically. 2. Watch out for texts, calls or emails about a missed delivery. Legitimate delivery services usually leave a "missed delivery" notice on your door. If you receive a missed delivery notice, examine the form carefully to make sure it is authentic and only then follow their instructions. Keep track of what you've ordered so you have a better idea of what is coming and when. Don't click on any links; go to the delivery carrier's website directly, or log in and use the retailer's tracking tools. 3. Request a Signature. Chances are this feature may come with a price tag, but it may be worth the extra fee. Requesting a signature means that a delivery service won't be able to drop a package on your doorstep unless someone is around to sign for it. 4. Don't leave packages sitting on your doorstep. Packages left sitting outside are particularly vulnerable to theft. To ensure safe delivery, have your package delivered to your workplace, or to a trusted friend or neighbor who will be home to accept delivery. Some delivery companies now have lockers where your packages can securely wait for you to pick them up using a one-time code to open the locker. 5. Open your delivery upon receipt to check for damage or signs of tampering. Contact the seller immediately if you believe something is wrong with the shipment or if it's not what you ordered. Also, be sure to review the seller's return policy for damaged or unwanted items. 5 Ways to Avoid Delivery Scams and Package Theft Article Provided By: Juliana O'Rork This time of year, online shopping surges as folks scramble to buy holiday gifts and fi nd the best deals online. Unfortunately, scammers know this all too well and will be trying to take advantage of unaware shoppers. People often report credit card fraud and phishing and shipping scams during the holiday season. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that these scams cost consumers more than $500 million in 2022! When doing your holiday shopping online this year, be sure to follow these steps to avoid letting criminals rob you of your hard-earned money and holiday spirit: • Always verify who you're buying from. Make sure that a website you plan to shop with has https:// and a lock icon in the URL to ensure you are on a secure and legitimate site. If you're not sure if an online vendor is legitimate, call the Better Business Bureau or our offi ce's Consumer Protection Section at 1-877-5-NO- SCAM to see if the company has any complaints against it. You should also do an online search for negative reviews. • Avoid offers that seem too good to be true. If you fi nd a low-priced product online, especially on a site you aren't familiar with, cross-check the price with other more well- established vendors. If the price you found is signifi cantly lower, it's likely a scam. • Look for red fl ags on websites. Spelling errors, pop-up ads, unusual payment methods, or requests for personal information are good indicators that an online vendor is unsafe to shop from. If you're redirected to another website or domain, make sure to check the URL to ensure it's secure. • Stay on top of your shipping information. Scammers know that people will be tracking their online deliveries and will try to trick them with fake text messages or emails about a package. When you order online, make sure you have tracking numbers directly from the vendor or mail carrier so you can track your package directly with them. Avoid clicking any links you randomly receive via text message or email about your package. These can be phishing links designed to steal your personal information. • Pay with a credit card whenever possible. Scammers will often ask you to use other payment types like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency because it is more diffi cult to dispute a transaction and get your money back. • Report suspicious activity to authorities. Never feel hesitant to contact law enforcement if you suspect you've been scammed. Reporting these scams helps law enforcement crack down on these crimes and can help prevent others from falling victim. If you think you or someone you know has been scammed, contact the Consumer Protection Division at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or fi le a complaint at https://ncdoj. gov/fi le-a-complaint/. Avoid Holiday Shopping Scams This Year Article Provided By: NC Attorney General