The holiday season is fast upon us, be it Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa. It is a joyous time with family and friends and traditional ceremonies reaching far back in time.

Sadly, the holidays bring out droves of scam artists, pickpockets, common thieves and shoplifters, too. Not all elves in the stores or on the streets are on the good side of the force. Willie Sutton, the bank robber of decades ago, when asked why he robbed banks, stated bluntly, “because that’s where the money is.” Today’s bad guys follow the same creed, and with lots of shopping and activity, this is the best time of the year to fleece distracted victims. The informed shopper armed with a little education and planning can often avoid these scam artists and their bad bag of evil tricks. Here are a few pitfalls to avoid:

. The Nicely Gift-Wrapped Package that Swallows Purses and Merchandise – Yes, it looks like a wonderful gift all nicely wrapped. The reality is that either a side or the bottom is completely opened so the perpetrator can set this Trojan horse package over a store’s merchandise (sans anti-theft tags) or over a lady’s purse on the counter. He then picks it all up and leaves the store. If he has an accomplice, they can easily distract the shopper while the unattended purse is purloined.

. Fishing for Dropped Receipts at the Gas Pump (and elsewhere) – Eagle-eye crooks watch busy and harried shoppers who drop or leave a credit card receipt near the gas pump or near the ATM or at the mall. The card may have the complete account number, expiration date and name of the victim. A quick check of the telephone book gives the home phone number and address of the victim. Armed with this information, rapid calls to toll-free numbers of catalog companies can divert expensive items to a mail drop of the crook’s choosing. Some bad guys press the “yes” receipt button forgotten by the victim and the perp gets the machine to spit out a receipt. Also, when paying for a meal by credit card at the table, note whether the complete account number is printed on the merchant’s copy or just the last four digits. That slip you leave on the table is retrievable by anyone and your account security might be quickly compromised.

. Credit Card Switcheroo – Bad guys swap out a bogus credit card with a victim’s good card left on the counter. Often an accomplice will distract the stressed shopper so the swap can happen easily. The victim gives the bogus card to the clerk, who swipes it and says it’s no good. Perpetrators walk out of the store with smiles on their faces and a new resource to plunder. Victim is stuck at busy counter with a bogus card and plenty of hassles.

. Bathroom Stall Bandits – Hanging a purse on the hook inside the stall door in the ladies’ room is never a good idea. While the victim may feel they are safe in their little world, there are female baddies who will reach over the top of the stall and quickly remove the victim’s purse. These perpetrators can also snatch a purse from an adjoining stall if the purse is placed on the floor.

The holiday season can be a great time, a season filled with joy and happy commerce as well as the spirit and memories steeped in tradition and personal reflection. Please remember, the creeps and charlatans are working overtime this shopping season to make your holiday experience as miserable as possible. Don’t give them that opportunity.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast CONTACT for Better Business Inc., Maine’s membership-funded, nonprofit organization. An individual annual membership is $25; business memberships start at $125. For consumer help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.