INDIANAPOLIS — The holidays are hectic – shopping, shipping and juggling endless tasks – and scammers take advantage of the distraction.

Before you reach for your credit card, keep these scams in mind.

Be cautious of fake charities by researching organizations on trusted sites like CharityNavigator.org or Give.org . Donate only through official websites instead of links in unsolicited messages.

Even if the charity is familiar to you, ensure it's the organization's real website. Check for small discrepancies such as misspellings or a URL address off by a letter.

Watch out for fake online stores, especially social media ads promoting popular gifts at prices that seem too good to be true. A quick search on BBB.org or Trustpilot can help you spot red flags.

If you receive a package or dec

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