Be Wary of Valentine's Day Scams | Crime

HUDSON, OH - The Summit County Office of Consumer Affairs reminds you to be wary of scams during Valentine’s Day.

Be suspicious of any phone call or email seeking personal information that could be used in a harmful way. Use caution when on social media sites and be careful when clicking links, even if they look like they are from a friend. It’s a good practice to set up your profile to use the highest privacy settings.

E-cards are another area to tread lightly. A card in your inbox from a “secret admirer” can look inviting, but you may be opening the door to a computer virus looking to steal your personal information or infect your machine with spyware.

If you’ve purchased something for your special someone online, you could be a target for scammers. Always read the fine print to avoid unknown charges, and never give your credit card number to someone calling or emailing you unless you are completely sure they are legit. There have been reports of scammers pretending to be florists and convincing consumers that they need to supply their payment information over the phone in order for an order to be delivered. If you’ve already paid for your flower delivery, do not give out your information again. Call the florist and verify the validity of the call.

If you’ve been the victim of a scam, please contact the Office of Consumer Affairs at (330) 643-2879.