Woodstock, IL – Holiday shoppers across McHenry County and northern Illinois are being urged to stay alert today as Black Friday deals flood inboxes and social media feeds. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office issued a new warning Friday morning outlining several scam tactics already circulating during the biggest shopping weekend of the year.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, residents should expect an increase in fraudulent websites, phishing emails, fake charity solicitations, and gift-card payment schemes—some of the most common holiday-season scams. Officials said gift cards remain a top red flag, noting that no legitimate business or agency will ever demand payment through gift cards. Anyone who receives such a request is urged to hang up immediately.
The department also warned shoppers to double-check website URLs before completing purchases. Slight misspellings, unusual formatting, or unfamiliar domain endings may indicate a counterfeit storefront created to steal payment information. Officials recommend navigating directly to retailer websites rather than clicking links in promotional emails.
Phishing emails offering steep, time-sensitive deals are another concern. The Sheriff’s Office advises deleting any unsolicited messages and verifying sales through the retailer’s official site. Residents are also encouraged to read product reviews carefully and confirm the legitimacy of any charity before donating.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that monitoring your financial accounts remains the most important step. Detecting unauthorized charges quickly increases the chances of resolving them with banks or credit card companies.
Officials also encouraged families to check in on older relatives who may be less familiar with online shopping or may be more vulnerable to high-pressure scams.
Residents who believe they may have been targeted or victimized are urged to contact local law enforcement.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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