Tomorrow marks the official start of the holiday season, as families will gather around tables to get stuffed with turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and all the trimmings.

While it is a day that is typically filled with eating too much, by the early evening many residents throughout Lawrence County and the region will be making their plans to head out and get their Christmas shopping started.

The season is certainly filled with joy and excitement, but Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine cautioned residents of scams that ramp up around the holiday season.

Here are some tips that can help you stay safe, secure and allow your Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years holidays cheerful and bright.

Possible scams and signs of scams can include:

• Seasonal job scams

• Package delivery scams

• Advance-fee loan scams

• Online shopping scams

• Charity scams

• Requests for payment using money-transfer services, prepaid cards, or gift cards

• Receiving a check and being told to send a portion of the money elsewhere

• Pressure to act immediately

• Guarantees that you’ll make money

• Having to pay to secure a loan, grant or prize

• Winning a contest you never entered

• Requests to send money out of the country

• No written information or contact information

• Unexpected, threatening calls

Each of these potential scams, along with identify theft that seems to increase around the holidays, can ruin anyone’s holiday season. If you feel you have been a victim or find something suspicious, we encourage you to contact the attorney general’s office at 800-282-0515 or visit their website at www.OhioProtects.org.