PITTSBURGH — It's the most wonderful time of the year for scam artists and identity thieves.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations took time out from fighting crime Tuesday to warn shoppers across Western Pennsylvania about ne'er-do-wells and would-be-Grinches prowling the Internet.

“So many times we see victims fall prey in the hustle and bustle of seasonal shopping to scammers,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough during a news conference in the FBI's resident agency.

Since the year's start, Yarbrough said 500 victims in the region, including Butler County, were swindled through online purchases — including gift cards — resulting in nearly $1 million in losses.

In November, state police said a 78-year Washington Township woman was contacted through Facebook Messenger that she believed to be from her friend “Patricia.” The message advised the woman that she could make $80,000 if she donated $1,325 in gift cards to an organization.

The woman bought the gift cards, totaling $1,325, and sent them to the contact, police said, but never received any compensation.

With a high number of senior citizens, the region, Yarbrough noted, is especially vulnerable to schemes that aim to steal money from the unsuspecting. From fake phone calls with “relatives” asking for money to online email phishing scams, Yarbrough wants people to be aware of the myriad of ways they can be tricked into giving money to scammers.To prevent losses while shopping online, Yarbrough suggested using information from the Better Business Bureau, a private nonprofit, to verify the legitimacy of a website. He also noted that online shoppers only should use websites that have “https,” rather than just “http,” at the beginning of a website's URL. The “s” stands for secure.“We often see this on websites with prices that are literally too good to be true,” Yarbrough noted, explaining that people will be tricked into thinking they're buying deeply discounted items online, but the desired goods never get delivered.Butler Township Police Lt. Matthew Pearson said he hasn't noticed any uptick in the township.“They're out there every day. If it's too good to be true it usually is. Just use common sense,” Pearson said. “It's hard to track down scammers since they're usually from a different country. They originate from all over place, and it's outside our jurisdiction.”Pearson worried that scammers will continue to develop ever more sophisticated schemes and warns people against scammers recording a potential victim's voice that could be used for nefarious purposes. He warned people against saying, “yes” to a computerized voice because the recorded “yes” could be used to gain access to someone's finances.“They're recording you for sure. Maybe they already have some info on you, and they get you saying “yes” and they'll be able to use that to access your finances,” Pearson said.Ultimately, though, Pearson said he has noticed people in the township are catching on to schemers.Cranberry Township Police and Butler State police couldn't be reached for comment.“People are becoming wiser, and we don't have as many victims as we used to,” Pearson said.

Energy companies also have joined in warning of scammers. Last month, FirstEnergy and other electric and gas companies held a scam awareness week to help customers spot fake bills, phone calls or even door-to-door visits.According to FirstEnergy, scammers often claim that unpaid bills have to be resolved to avoid services being immediately discontinued.These scams are heightened in the winter because they “feed off people's fear of losing heat in the cold weather,” according to WestPenn Energy spokesman Todd Meyers.“We put it out more because it's getting colder. People might be more concerned about the prospect of losing electricity and having a house getting very cold and all the bad things that can happen when you don't have electricity in the winter,” Meyers said.“They're going after people at a time of year when they're more vulnerable and playing on emotion by saying things like 'if you don't do something in the next 30 minutes, we'll cut your power.' All those buzzwords are signs that you know that's not the utility.”FirstEnergy, WestPenn and other energy companies advised customers they never call or email to demand immediate payment to avoid same-day shutoff. Instead, customers behind on payments will receive written notices of a possible disconnection.Additionally, FirstEnergy employees occasionally will call customers, but only as a reminder to pay their outstanding balances using established payment methods.If a customer is approached by a scammer, FirstEnergy suggests cutting off communication with the person and calling the police.After that, FirstEnergy suggests using the number on the utility's website, not the phone number with which the potential scammer provided them. “Here's where it gets a little tricky. These scamsters are criminals, but not fools. They've really loaded up on the theatrics, so it looks like WestPenn Power,” Meyers said about scam callers. “They can even put you on hold with music. All those trappings.”

Ultimately, Meyers had this suggestion: “Hang up. Don’t pay up. Even if it’s actually us, feel free to hang up on us. And then find the real number on your bill and call us. Don’t worry. We won’t cut your power just like that.”And with the holiday season’s emphasis on charity, Yarbrough cautioned people against accidentally giving money to a scam instead of the intended charitable organization.“Take the time to do your research and keep an eye on your bank account activity,” Yarbrough said.He also suggested that any online account connected to a bank account or financial information should have a complex password to deter potential hackers. Additionally, he advised to never click on a link contained in an email. “These types of scams are an everyday occurrence,” he noted, but added during the holidays there is a “slight uptick in activity.”“Ultimately, it’s incumbent upon the customer that they’re doing their research,” he said.