By Suzanne Downing 
The newest episode of The Northern Ledger podcast, now streaming on The Alaska Story’s Substack newsletter site, takes listeners inside the fast-moving world of holiday online shopping, a place where instant gratification and convenience meet risk.
Host Jonathan Quick is joined by Jim Cullinan, spokesperson for Meta, for an eye-opening discussion about the surge in digital gift buying and the scams that flourish this time of year. As more Alaskans turn to their phones and laptops to knock out their Christmas lists, Cullinan lays out the most common traps that unsuspecting shoppers stumble into.
He explains how scam emails often mimic familiar retailers with near-perfect precision, and how fraudulent payment requests, ones that are designed to look legitimate, can separate shoppers from their money in seconds. Cullinan’s walkthrough of red flags offers practical, clear guidance for staying safe: double-check sender addresses, be wary of urgent payment requests, and never click links that seem off.
A key takeaway, he says, is that sticking with trusted platforms dramatically reduces risk. Facebook Marketplace, for example, includes built-in security features and established community standards that he says help filter out bad actors before they reach buyers or sellers.
Quick and Cullinan also zoom out to look at how digital marketplaces uniquely affect remote states like Alaska. With long shipping times, high freight costs, and limited retail choices in many communities, platforms like Facebook Marketplace can be a lifeline, helping residents find deals, avoid delays, or earn extra cash selling items locally.
Cullinan shares safety strategies for in-person meetups, encourages buyers and sellers to use Marketplace’s protections, and outlines ways Alaskans can participate confidently in online commerce without putting themselves at unnecessary risk.
Whether you’re a seasoned online bargain hunter or jumping into digital shopping for the first time, this episode delivers essential guidance for navigating the holiday season with confidence.
To learn more about staying safe while shopping or selling on Facebook Marketplace, Cullinen recommends you visit the Meta help page.Â
Meta probably doesn’t do or say anything unless there is a buck in it for Mr. Zuckerberg.