A new scam has come to light that takes advantage of a business holiday generosity.

A number of local businesses hold holiday giveaways via social media at this time of year and with that comes the opportunity for scammers to pose as these reputable businesses.

A.J. Rooney, son of the owner of Bogart’s Jewellers says that their Christmas giveaway has been hijacked by scammers creating fake accounts posing as Bogart’s Jewellers, directing entrants to a link in order to claim a prize that they did not actually win.

Rooney says that there are certain things to look out for in these circumstances.

He says that you should always check the spelling of the company name to make sure that it is legitimate and be aware of the giveaways regulations to know how the winners will be contacted. He says that in their case they announce the winner on social media and require the winners to contact them.