As we know, the Internet has seen a barrage of fake news in recent months. But now it’s holiday time, and a storm of fake apps has arrived to scam holiday online shoppers. Many of the fake apps are counterfeits of popular stores – ranging from Nordstrom to Dollar Tree to Christian Dior.

And while Apple is playing a game of whac-a-mole in removing fake apps from the App Store, they are still popping up every day.

In this type of scam, a scammer tells their victim that a family member is cursed “and that only a very specific blessing will end the curse.” Generally, these scammers target older Chinese women – “who are culturally predisposed to be easier marks because of their reverence for family and mistrust for banks.”

If you’re looking for a place to rent, be warned. Scammers are out there posing as homeowners and copying real listings to post on the classifieds site.

We posted a story this month on our Facebook page about a Michigan woman who was recently the unfortunate victim of such a scam.

At first, the Craigslist ad felt like a “blessing.” Teresa Johnson corresponded back and forth with the fake owner until they told her she could move in. They asked her to send a $16,000 security deposit but $800 was all she had.