Here are 12 holiday scams to watch out for this season

"It's the holiday season, and while people are busy shopping for gifts and giving back, scammers are also hard at work, looking to take advantage of distracted shoppers and businesses. With holiday spending projected to top $1 trillion, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers about 12 common scams to watch out for this season. 1. Misleading Social Media Ads You've probably seen products pop up in your social media feed. Before you click "buy," do your homework."

"BBB says it gets daily reports of people paying for items they never receive, getting stuck with unexpected charges after signing up for a "free trial," or receiving counterfeit or incorrect items. 2. Social Media Gift Exchanges This scam comes back every year in different forms. From "Secret Sister" to wine or bourbon exchanges, $10 gift swaps, or even "Secret Santa Dog" exchanges, these schemes trick people into sharing personal information and sending money or gifts to strangers."

"3. Holiday Apps Apps that let kids chat with Santa, track his sleigh, or light the menorah can be fun, but make sure to check their privacy policies. Some free apps may collect more data than you'd expect or even contain malware. 4. Fake Toll Collection Texts If you're hitting the road for the holidays, beware of fake toll fee texts. Scammers impersonate toll collection services, claiming you owe a fee and providing a fake payment link. Always verify outstanding balances directly with the real agency."

Scammers intensify efforts during the holiday season to exploit distracted shoppers and businesses amid projected spending over $1 trillion. Common schemes include misleading social media ads that result in unpaid merchandise, hidden charges from free trials, and counterfeit items. Social-media gift-exchange posts lure participants into revealing personal information or sending gifts to strangers. Holiday-themed apps may collect excessive data or contain malware. Fake toll texts impersonate agencies and push fraudulent payment links. Phishing offers for free gift cards and too-good-to-be-true temporary job listings aim to steal money or personal information, while imposter websites and fake social accounts facilitate fraud.

Read at ABC11 Raleigh-Durham