Holiday Scam 1: "Free iPad Giveaway!"
Apple's recently-released iPad is a popular item this holiday season, so naturally criminals are using that to hook people.

Be safe

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I have seen so many 'Get a free iPad by filling out a survey' ads already," said Jones. "Kinect (for the gaming system Xbox 360) is the other one."

But usually these offers are just a ploy to get you to a site where you are typically asked for credit card numbers 'to cover a small shipping charge' or other sensitive information in order to receive the prize. Your credit information is used by the con artist for nefarious purposes, and you get nothing. Stay away from these kinds of offers, said Jones.

"Apple is not going to give out a free iPad. They are not going to authorize anyone to give out a free iPad."

Researchers at McAfee Labs also found this ruse running rampant on Facebook and Twitter.

"In the social media version of the scam, users take a quiz to win a free iPad and must supply their cell phone number to receive the results. In actuality they are signed up for a cell phone scam that costs $10 a week. "