Welcoming a child into the world is exciting. It’s also a vulnerable time when you might feel overwhelmed and sleep deprived. During this new life stage, scammers could try to take advantage of your heightened stress, fears and desire to provide the best for your little one. It’s important to remain aware and vigilant to avoid scams.
Common scams new parents should be aware of
Cybercriminals often target new parents with schemes related to baby products, “miracle” parenting solutions and “expert” advice.
Fake baby product deals
Diapers, clothing, bouncers, the latest stroller – the list of needed baby items can feel overwhelming. When taking everything into consideration, you might struggle to decide where to save on certain products and where to splurge on the high-ticket items, especially with so many to choose from. Fraudsters capitalize on your desire to get the best deals by creating fake product listings and with deals that are too good to be true. Buy these items and you could receive something low-quality, non-compliant or worse, nothing at all.
To avoid purchasing counterfeit items, research each company and product thoroughly, and make sure reviews from certified purchasers exist. Only pay with a secure payment method that can be reversed if a product turns out to be a scam.
Read more: How Ally Bank helps keep your money safe.
Social media scams
Social media can be a great place to share with family and friends as a new parent. Unfortunately, it’s also a place where cybercriminals could try to take advantage of you. On social media, fraudsters could promote fake giveaways or exploit vulnerabilities by posing as a trusted professional, offering advice or products in exchange for payment or personal information.
When engaging with social media content regarding your child or parenting, protect your information by only engaging with reputable sources and be cautious of unsolicited advice or product recommendations.
Cybercriminals often target new parents with schemes related to baby products, “miracle” parenting solutions and “expert” advice.
Online forum scams
Within new parent forums, parents connect with others and look for advice. Fraudsters will pose as like-minded, seemingly trustworthy individuals in these online spaces and attempt to steal personal data (like birthdates, addresses or financial information), or sell unverified “miracle” cures for common baby health issues that could be dangerous.
How can you avoid these scams? Only purchase through verified sellers and websites, report suspicious accounts to forum admins or the authorities, and be cautious of giving out personal information to other members in these groups.
How to protect yourself
As a new parent, you’re inundated with advice and advertisements. Consider the following tips to keep yourself (and your growing family) safe:
Verify information
Always verify any website or seller you purchase from online. Look for the lock symbol or “https” in the page's address bar to know if a site is secure. If you’re purchasing from a major online retailer, check the seller’s page and subsequent reviews to ensure they’re trustworthy.
Be cautious with personal information
Scammers will try to extract personal information like credit card details, addresses and banking information from you. Avoid sharing any sensitive details online, via text or over the phone.
Report suspicious activity
If you’ve been the victim of a scam, report it to the platform’s help center, local authorities or the FTC.
Consult trusted sources
It can be difficult to know where to turn to as a new parent. Only rely on medical professionals and established organizations for parenting advice.
Be wary of high-pressure tactics
Fraudsters often create a sense of urgency when pressuring potential victims into making quick decisions. Pause before responding, take your time, verify who contacted you and see if you notice any grammatical mistakes in their message, which can be a red flag that something is amiss. Ultimately, if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t respond.
Protect yourself and your family
Bringing home a new bundle of joy can make you a target for cybercriminals. By familiarizing yourself with information about common scams and remaining diligent against them, you can help protect yourself and your family from fraud.
