After Thanksgiving dinner, most people have an excess of food in the house left over.

Cooking large meals can be a way to stretch your budget — then take a break from cooking and enjoy the leftovers for a few days.

So, how exactly should you store all this food — and how long can you safely eat leftovers? 

5 THANKSGIVING TURKEY FACTS FROM REGISTERED DIETITIANS

Two food experts shared smart leftover food safety guidelines.

Here’s what you need to know to stay safe — and to waste as little food as possible. 

How long can cooked poultry, beef or seafood leftovers or vegetable-based dishes be kept safely in the fridge? 

If you’re creating a meal with meat or seafood, be sure to refrigerate leftovers in a timely fashion to preserve the meal. 

The leftovers should be fine for a few days. 

THIS THANKSGIVING, NEARLY 35% OF AMERICANS SURVEYED ARE TURNED OFF BY TURKEY

“Our general rule is that all cooked food is safe in a refrigerator kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit for up to four days,” said Jesus Garcia, public affairs specialist with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, in Washington, D.C.

“By the fourth day, you should consume, freeze it or discard it,” he said.

Why is a speedy table-to-fridge transition after serving so important?

All perishable items, including raw and cooked meat and poultry, should be refrigerated within two hours of coming out of the refrigerator or being cooked, said Garcia.

“After two hours in the ‘danger zone,’ which is temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, bacteria can multiply to dangerous levels and cause the food to become unsafe,” Garcia told Fox News Digital. 

What are some other ways to store leftovers safely?

It’s important to break down large meals like turkey or roast beef into smaller portions and store them in shallow containers so that items may cool faster, said Garcia.

It’s important to break down large meals like turkey or roast beef into smaller portions and store them in shallow containers so that items may cool faster, said one food safety expert.  (iStock)

Other smart strategies are to cover leftovers, wrap them in airtight packaging or seal them in storage containers, he said. 

BRINE YOUR THANKSGIVING TURKEY IN THIS FOR GOLDEN SKIN: ‘DRIPPING WITH JUICE’

“These practices help keep bacteria out, retain moisture and prevent leftovers from picking up odors from other food in the refrigerator. Immediately refrigerate or freeze the wrapped leftovers for rapid cooling,” said Garcia.

Leftovers should always be put away in a storage container with a well-fitting lid or covered sufficiently in airtight packaging to keep bacteria out.

Vanessa Imus, a registered dietitian in Bothell, Washington, told Fox News Digital that leftovers should always be put away in a storage container with a well-fitting lid or covered sufficiently in airtight packaging to keep bacteria out. 

She also said it’s very important to cool food quickly. 

“This means that if you have a big pot of soup or a large cut of meat, you’ll need to break it down into smaller portions before placing it in the refrigerator,” Imus said.

After dinner, Thanksgiving turkey and other meats should be broken down and stored in the refrigerator. (iStock)

A whole turkey placed in the fridge will take longer to cool than sliced meats put away in several small containers, she said.

What are the warning signs you may need to toss the food?

You should not rely entirely on sight or smell to determine if leftovers are edible and safe, Imus pointed out.

FOR THANKSGIVING, THIS TYPE OF BREAD MAKES THE BEST STUFFING, CHEFS REVEAL

“Although I’ve seen friends do the ‘sniff test,’ that is not an accurate way to measure the safety of your leftovers,” she said. 

“Your food may look perfectly fine, but that doesn’t mean it is perfectly fine.”

“You would much rather be safe than sorry.”

Instead, she agreed with Garcia about sticking to the four-day rule. 

“If you didn’t label your food and you can’t remember when you originally prepared it, then it’s time to throw it out,” said Imus. 

“You would much rather be safe than sorry as the risk of food poisoning goes up after four days in the refrigerator.” 

What about re-heating? Are there protocols to use?

Always make sure to reheat leftovers to 165 degrees, said Imus. 

(Any Thanksgiving leftovers should be reheated to 165 degrees.)

“That means you’ll need a thermometer to check. Since microwaves can cause some cold pockets, be sure to stir and turn food as you reheat it,” she added.

What about the timing for all those holiday leftovers?

“The problem that people run into is that they’re busy hosting and entertaining and not paying attention to how long food is sitting out,” Imus told Fox News Digital.  

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“Plus, the guests might be coming and going or lingering over the food table throughout the evening.” 

She warned that this usually leads to food sitting out far beyond the recommended two-hour time limit. 

“Be sure to check the time when you set the food out and get it put away in the fridge within two hours. Better yet, set a timer to remind yourself,” added Imus.

To keep all family members and friends safe this holiday season, “be sure to check the time when you set the food out and get it put away into the fridge within two hours. Better yet, set a timer to remind yourself,” said one expert. (iStock)

Garcia said Thanksgiving leftovers will sustain you from Black Friday to Cyber Monday. 

“Reheating in an oven or a microwave will take longer for dense foods such as turkey or roast beef than for less dense foods like breads and small vegetables,” he said.

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“Leftovers should reach a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit as measured by a food thermometer,” he also said.  

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The experts again emphasized breaking down the turkey or other large dishes into smaller portions and storing those smaller portions in shallow containers.

Other tips to know

Handwashing is the first step to avoiding foodborne illness, said Garcia. 

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“Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water before, during and after handling food. Then pat dry with clean paper towels,” he said. 

A Connecticut man was shot and killed by a Florida sheriff’s sniper after he allegedly fired more than 200 rounds at neighboring homes and at authorities over several hours on Thursday.

The suspect, identified as Joseph DiFusco, was killed by a sniper with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, but no one else was harmed, the sheriff’s office said. 

DiFusco, 56, was a snowbird who possibly brought firearms from out of state because he was staying at an Airbnb, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal. 

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Deputies responded to the Kingston Shores condominiums near Ormond-by-the-Sea at around 4 a.m. after DiFusco reported having suicidal thoughts but declined medical transport, FOX Orlando reported. Deputies were called back to the area two hours later when DiFusco allegedly began firing into neighboring units and at responding law enforcement officers.

“Probably fired over 200 rounds,” Chitwood said. “[You could] hear bullets whizzing over our heads, and we were 100 yards back.”

Chitwood said deputies conducted three previous visits to the condominium complex, the news station reported. 

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Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputies are shown near where a man was killed after he allegedly fired more than 200 rounds at a Florida condo complex on Thursday. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)

“He was not going to negotiate,” he told the news station. “Every time we would try to negotiate, he would fire on us. [He] turned off his phone. He was armed to the teeth.”

Neighbors were evacuated from the area. Chitwood said DiFusco’s family reached out to authorities before the incident, saying they feared for their safety. 

“They were so scared of him, they were sleeping in a car,” he said.

He noted that DiFusco had reportedly stopped taking his medication and had not slept for days.

The walls of the Florida condo complex were riddled with bullets on Thursday. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)

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Images released by the sheriff’s office show the outside walls of the complex riddled with bullet holes. The ordeal lasted more than five hours.

DiFusco barricaded himself in his rental unit and was armed with at least three guns, authorities said.

Billboard on Thursday apologized over a video compilation of Taylor Swift that inadvertently showed a clip from a Kanye West video depicting a wax figure that looked like the pop singer naked in bed with him. 

“We are deeply sorry to Taylor Swift and all of our readers and viewers that in a video celebrating Swift’s achievements, we included a clip that falsely depicted her,” the magazine wrote on social media early Thanksgiving morning. “We have removed the clip from our video and sincerely regret the harm we caused with this error.”

A community note on X about Billboard’s apology stated, “The clip stated by Billboard as being ‘falsely depicting’ was a video clip from Ye’s ‘Famous’ music video. Portraying a naked Taylor Swift wax figure recreation, among other celebrity men and women, the music video was revenge porn. This is illegal in most U.S. states.”

TAYLOR SWFT, TRAVIS KELCE HAVE ‘AUTHENTIC’ RELATIONSHIP DESPITE ‘MARKETING STRATEGY’ RUMORS: CHIEF’S PRESIDENT

In his controversial and explicit 2016 music video “Famous,” West not only depicted himself in bed with Swift, his now-ex-wife Kim Kardashian, now-President-elect Trump, Anna Wintour, Rihanna and others, he also claimed credit for Swift’s fame. 

“I made that b—- famous,” he raps in the song, also saying, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex.” 

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Billboard had included its video montage, which was supposed to show Swift’s career highlights, on its Instagram page after naming her the second-greatest pop star of the 21st century. (Emma McIntyre/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

The two musicians have had a fraught relationship for the last 15 years, since West interrupted the “Shake it Off” singer’s 2009 MTV Video Music Awards acceptance speech to suggest that Beyoncé deserved the award more than her. 

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The two musicians have had a fraught relationship for the last 15 years, since West interrupted the “Shake it Off” singer’s 2009 MTV Video Music Awards acceptance speech to suggest that Beyoncé deserved the award more than her. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Billboard had included its video montage, which was supposed to show Swift’s career highlights, on its Instagram page after naming her the second-greatest pop star of the 21st century. No. 1 will be revealed next week. 

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Several commenters wrote, “Apologize publicly to Taylor Swift,” before the magazine added the mea culpa in a note on the same Instagram post. 

A representative for Swift did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

No matter who starts at quarterback for the New York Giants, it isn’t going to go well.

“Big Blue” fell to their NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, 27-20.

The Giants marched down the field on their first drive of the game, going 13 plays and 70 yards to go up 7-3 early. However, after allowing another field goal, Drew Lock threw a pick-six on the first play of his next drive.

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The G-Men then punted on three of their next four drives as the Cowboys took a 13-10 lead into the locker room.

The Giants got the ball to begin the second half, but on just the third play, Lock lost a fumble, and Dallas took advantage. Six plays later, after narrowly escaping a turnover of their own, Cooper Rush found Brandin Cooks for a score. New York then went three-and-out, and it was a nine-play touchdown drive for the Cowboys with Rico Dowdle finding the end zone to go up 27-10 late in the third.

New York kicked a field goal early in the fourth, and after keeping Dallas off the scoreboard, Lock ran for a touchdown with a little more than two minutes to go. However, the Giants couldn’t get the ball back, and the Cowboys kneed out the clock to win the game.

Cooper Rush of the Dallas Cowboys throws a pass during the second quarter against the New York Giants. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

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Lock got the start after Tommy DeVito, who started last week despite Lock originally being the season-long backup after Daniel Jones’ release, was ruled inactive due to a forearm injury. He was 21-for-32 for 178 yards with a pick and a fumble, but he was also the team’s leading rusher with 57 yards.

Dallas’ victory came at a cost as CeeDee Lamb left the game with a shoulder injury. He had two catches for 39 yards.

Malik Nabers also made history. He now has the most catches (75) in a player’s first 10 games in the league ever, beating former Giant Odell Beckham Jr.’s record of 71. He finished with eight catches for 69 yards.

This marked the third time in as many games the Giants had a different starting quarterback, a far cry from Eli Manning starting every game for nearly 13 years.

Dallas has now won 20 of their last 24 games against the Giants and each of their last eight. (The Cowboys also beat the Giants on Thanksgiving two years ago.) Dowdle ran for 112 yards on his 22 carries, one of which was a score.

Brandin Cooks of the Dallas Cowboys catches a touchdown pass against the New York Giants during the third quarter. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

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The Giants are now 2-10 as they continue to trend toward owning the first overall pick. The Cowboys, meanwhile, improved to 5-7 and have won two in a row.

New York hosts the Saints next Sunday, while the Cowboys stay home as the Cincinnati Bengals come to town.

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Texas could implement a plan to bus migrants directly to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in an effort to get them processed for deportation, according to media reports. 

The move would be a departure from the state’s program, part of Operation Lone Star, that has bussed thousands of migrants to sanctuary cities, a source told the New York Post. It has yet to be approved by Gov. Greg Abbott. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to Abbott’s office. 

“We are always going to be involved in border security so long as we’re a border state,” a Texas government source told the newspaper. “We spent a lot of taxpayer money to have the level of deterrent that we have on the border, and we can’t just walk away.”

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Abbott has been especially aggressive in combating illegal immigration, bussing migrants to blue cities in an effort to bring attention to the border crisis. Under the proposed plan, buses chartered by Texas from border cities will be taken to federal detention centers to help ICE agents process migrants quickly, the Post reported.

Texas has been in a legal fight with the Biden administration over its efforts to curb illegal immigration. On Wednesday, an appeals court ruled that the state has the right to build a razor wire border wall to deter migrants. 

Officials have also offered land to the incoming Trump administration to build deportation centers to hold illegal immigrant criminals.

LIBERAL NANTUCKET REELS FROM MIGRANT CRIME WAVE AS BIDEN SPENDS THANKSGIVING IN RICH FRIEND’S MANSION

“My office has identified several of our properties and is standing by ready to make this happen on Day One of the Trump presidency,” Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said during a visit to the border Tuesday.

Authorities have also warned of unaccompanied migrant children being caught near the border. On Thursday, a 10-year-old boy from El Salvador told state troopers in Maverick County, Texas, that he had been lost and left behind by a human smuggler. 

The boy was holding a cellphone and crying, Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez posted on X. The child said his parents were in the U.S. 

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On Sunday, troopers encountered an unaccompanied 2-year-old girl from El Salvador holding a piece of paper with a phone number and her name. She told authorities that her parents were also in the U.S. 

That morning, state troopers also encountered a group of 211 illegal immigrants in Maverick County. Among the group were 60 unaccompanied children, ages 2 to 17, and six special interest immigrants from Mali and Angola. 

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“Regardless of political views, it is unacceptable for any child to be exposed to dangerous criminal trafficking networks,” Olivarez wrote at the time. “With a record number of unaccompanied children and hundreds of thousands missing, there is no one ensuring the safety & security of these children except for the men & women who are on the frontlines daily.”

He noted that the “reality is that many children are exploited & trafficked, never to be heard from again.” 

Fox News’ “Antisemitism Exposed” newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world.

TOP 3:
– Chicago hate crime shooting suspect researched Jewish targets, says prosecutor
– NYT changes headline about murdered Dubai rabbi following public outcry
– Netflix’s ‘Mary’ attracts social media backlash for casting Israeli actress as mother of Jesus

TOP STORY: An illegal migrant accused of shooting an Orthodox Jewish man multiple times as he made his way to a Chicago Synagogue last month used his cellphone to scour for synagogues and Jewish community centers in the area shortly before the attack. His cell phone also contained more than 100 “antisemitic and pro-Hamas” images and videos, according to the Chicago Sun Times citing police. 

VIDEO: ‘Rebel News’ publisher Ezra Levant joined ‘America’s Newsroom’ to discuss why he was arrested at a pro-Hamas rally and his broader concerns about freedom of speech in Canada. Watch here:

CHANGING TIMES: The New York Times appeared to subtly change a headline about the abduction and murder of an Abu Dhabi rabbi after garnering intense backlash on social media over the weekend. The paper first covered Kogan’s death with the headline, “Israeli rabbi who disappeared in Dubai is found dead.” Online critics immediately pounced on the outlet for seeming to downplay the kidnapping and terrorist element involved in Kogan’s death. Read the updated headline here.

CASTING ASPERSIONS: A new Biblical epic film is garnering online backlash because of the film’s Israeli cast. Netflix’s “Mary” stars Israeli actress Noa Cohen in the titular role, and Israeli actor Ido Tako as Joseph, Jesus’ father. Several people online are now calling for a boycott, claiming the film is historically inaccurate because Mary and Joseph were actually “Palestinian.”

Noa Cohen and Ido Tako star in Netflix’s “MARY.” (Courtesy of Netflix) (Netflix)

GUEST EDITORIAL: Dr. Ayelet Levy Shahar, mother of 20-year-old Hamas hostage Naama Levy, implores Americans to remember her daughter and the other approximately 100 hostages as winter sets in.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Released hostages have confirmed our worst fears about the violence, physical and sexual abuse, starvation, and darkness in underground tunnels.” – Ayelet Levy Shahar, mother of Naama Levy, held hostage by Hamas for over a year.

– Looking for more on this topic? Find more antisemitism coverage from Fox News here.

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The Chicago Bears had a chance to tie, or win, their game against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day — but time expired all while they had a timeout to use.

Quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked with 32 seconds left, but the Bears curiously did not stop the clock.

Williams then hiked the ball with seven seconds left and overthrew wide receiver Rome Odunze — the ball hit the turf with the clock at zeroes, giving the Lions a 23-20 victory.

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The lack of calling a timeout was very unpopular with many on social media, who immediately began calling for Bears head coach Matt Eberflus’ job.

But, Eberflus had his reasons.

Quarterback Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears looks to pass during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday. (Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

LIONS MAKE FRANCHISE HISTORY MOVING TO 11-1 AFTER STAVING OFF BEARS ON THANKSGIVING

Considering the ball was at the Detroit 41 on the final play, the Bears could have gotten some chunk yards, then called a timeout to attempt a game-tying field goal.

But Eberflus said Williams waited too long to start the play — Eberlus wanted the ball hiked with around 18 seconds left, but it wasn’t snapped for another 11.

It was the sixth consecutive loss by the Bears, with each of their last two coming by the margin of a field goal against NFC North rivals.

Meanwhile, the Lions are now 11-1, their best start in franchise history, as quarterback Jared Goff threw two touchdowns, both to tight end Sam LaPorta, who finished with three catches for six yards.

Goff went 21-of-34 for 221 yards, with wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown leading the pack with 73 yards on five receptions.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams looks to pass during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday. (Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)

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Meanwhile, Williams turned up in the second half, finishing with 256 yards and three touchdown passes. Keenan Allen had 73 yards, while DJ Moore finished with 97.

Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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The Detroit Lions were enjoying some turkey after taking down their NFC North-rival Chicago Bears, 23-20, on Thanksgiving Day. 

Detroit made some history in the process, going 11-1 for the first time in the franchise’s history. The Bears fell to 4-8 on the season. 

Another milestone was reached for this great Lions team, as their defensive efforts kept the Bears scoreless in the first half. It was the first time this season the Lions had shut out a team in the first half. 

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Meanwhile, quarterback Jared Goff and the Lions’ electric offense put up 16 points, though they were limited in the red zone by their standards as kicker Jake Bates notched three field goals in the first half to account for nine of the 16 points. 

Tight end Sam LaPorta, who scored two touchdowns for the Lions, collected his first in the second quarter as Goff threw a laser to him from three yards out to make it 10-0 at the time. 

In the second half, though, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and his offense turned things around, as their opening drive resulted in a Keenan Allen touchdown from 31 yards out, as the rookie signal caller put it right on the wide receiver’s numbers and Allen ran it into the end zone. 

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But the Lions quickly responded, using over seven minutes of clock for LaPorta to find the end zone once more after Goff ran a perfect play-action pass that left the tight end wide open for the score. 

Williams and the Bears didn’t back down, however, as they marched 70 yards for Allen to get into the end zone again to keep the Lions’ lead at 10 after a failed two-point conversion. 

Then, after Bates missed his first field goal of the game, the Bears took advantage of the great field position as Williams threw a dime to wide receiver D.J. Moore for a touchdown down the left sideline from 31 yards out to make it a three-point game. 

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams looks to throw a pass during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday. (Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)

The Bears were able to get the ball back again with three minutes left, but a perfect punt left Chicago at the one-yard line to make it as hard as possible to get a chance to at least tie the game. 

But one of the weirdest endings to a game in recent memory came when Williams was sacked to make it third-and-26, leaving 30-plus seconds on the clock. Williams lost track of time, however, and took way too long to get the play off, ultimately launching a prayer to wide receiver Rome Odunze that fell incomplete to end the game.

Even more weird was head coach Matt Eberflus still having a timeout in his pocket. Knowing his quarterback was taking too long, he could have used it to preserve time — but the Bears found yet another improbable way to lose. 

In the box score, the “Sonic & Knuckles” backfield of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs put in work against the Bears’ defense to once again lead the way for the Lions’ offense. 

Gibbs needed only nine carries to tally 87 yards on the ground, while Montgomery had 21 carries for 88 yards. 

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta catches a touchdown pass during the game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday. (Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)

Goff went 21-of-34 for 221 yards, with wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown leading the pack with 73 yards on five receptions.

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Meanwhile, Williams turned up in the second half, finishing with 256 yards with his three touchdown passes. Allen had 73 yards, while Moore finished with 97.

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Charlie Lindgren gave the Tampa Bay Lightning the biggest gift any team could ask for on Wednesday night.

Lindgren was the netminder for the Washington Capitals in Florida on Thanksgiving Eve with the game tied at 3 in the third period.

Well, because of him, that was no longer the case.

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As a puck trickled into the Washington zone on the defensive side, Lindgren came out of the crease to play it. Lindgren was aiming to pass it to a teammate, but the net got in his way.

Instead of a pass, Lindgren backhanded the puck directly into his own net, giving the Lightning a 4-3 lead.

Thankfully for the Caps, the mind-boggling goal didn’t crush them too much as they wound up winning the game anyway.

Goalie Charlie Lindgren of the Washington Capitals is consoled by teammate Andrew Mangiapane (88) after scoring on his own net. (Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)

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Roughly three minutes after the error, John Carlson tied the game with his third goal of the season. Then, with about five minutes left in regulation, the Caps went on the power play, and Tom Wilson scored what wound up being the game-winning goal. 

Lindgren came into the contest with a 2.64 GAA. Unfortunately for him, that number went up with his own work.

Lindgren led the NHL in shutouts last year with six, finishing in eighth place in the Vezina voting in what was a career year.

Goaltender Charlie Lindgren of the Washington Capitals stretches on the ice prior to the game against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Nov. 25, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

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He quickly found his groove after becoming a full-time starter, but the own-goal was certainly one he’d like to have back.

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Black Friday is around the corner, and by the time you finish your Thanksgiving leftovers, Christmas will already be knocking. That might be an exaggeration, but what’s not is the rise in impersonation scams as the holiday season approaches. 

With shopping in full swing, Amazon becomes an especially big target. Expect to see bad actors pretending to be trusted contacts, trying to access sensitive information like Social Security numbers, bank details or Amazon account credentials.

To help you enjoy a scam-free shopping experience this holiday season, we spoke with Scott Knapp, VP of Worldwide Buyer Risk Prevention at Amazon, to learn how scammers impersonate the platform, what Amazon is doing to fight holiday scams and how you can stay safe.

5 DAYS LEFT! I’M GIVING AWAY A $500 GIFT CARD FOR THE HOLIDAYS(ends 12/2/24 12 pm PT)

The most common Amazon impersonation scams

Amazon is the world’s largest e-commerce platform, and it becomes even more relevant during the holiday season. With so many of us hunting for deals, scammers are well aware and ready to take advantage. They often use impersonation scams to trick shoppers into handing over card details or other sensitive information.

“During the 2023 holiday shopping season (Black Friday through Christmas Day), the most commonly reported impersonation scam by Amazon customers involved fake order or shipping confirmations claiming that payment was required in the U.S. There was nearly a 1.5x increase in reports of this scam from three weeks prior,” Knapp said. 

Another common impersonation scam around this time involves fake purchase alerts for popular tech products. Knapp said that Amazon saw about a 13x spike in customer reports compared to three weeks earlier.

A woman shopping on Amazon on her laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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What is Amazon doing to keep customers safe?

It’s clear that many scammers are trying to target Amazon customers, so I wanted to understand what the company is doing to keep them safe. I asked Knapp a bunch of questions about how the e-tail giant is staying ahead of the latest online holiday scams, and you can read his responses below.

How is Amazon working to take down phishing websites and phone numbers used in impersonation schemes?

“Our goal is to ensure that customers are protected when they shop on Amazon. That is why we are initiating the takedown of scammers with public-private partnerships to hold bad actors accountable. We have a team – including machine learning scientists and expert investigators – who protect our store and consumers from fraud and other forms of abuse.

“In 2023 alone, we initiated takedowns of more than 40,000 phishing websites and 10,000 phone numbers being used as part of impersonation schemes. We can take down reported scam phone numbers the same day and phishing websites in just a couple of hours. We also partner with law enforcement across the globe to ensure scammers are held accountable, including having referred hundreds of bad actors to authorities.”

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Can you explain how Amazon’s email verification technology helps identify phishing attempts?

“We’ve made it harder for bad actors to impersonate Amazon communications through implementing industry-leading tools, including the adoption of a secure email capability to make it easier for customers to identify authentic emails from Amazon and avoid phishing attempts. Customers using Gmail, Yahoo, and other common email providers can be confident that when they receive an @amazon.com email with the smile logo in their inbox, that email is really from us.”

Can you explain Amazon’s A-to-z Guarantee and how it protects holiday shoppers?

“When customers shop in the Amazon store, they can do so with peace of mind knowing that we stand behind the products sold in our store with the A-to-Z Guarantee.

“When a claim is filed, Amazon combines our advanced fraud and abuse detection systems with external, independent insurance specialists to analyze filings, take on the investigative work for our selling partners, present valid claims, and deny unsubstantiated, frivolous, or abusive claims. By doing this work on behalf of sellers, we save them from having to investigate these claims on their own. Innovating this process enables customers to shop confidently, which in turn drives selling partner success.

“Amazon’s protection applies to physical products purchased in our store worldwide, and in the unlikely event that customers experience issues with timely delivery or the condition of their purchase, whether purchased from Amazon or one of our approximately two million selling partners, Amazon will make it right by refunding or replacing it. Whether during the holiday shopping season, or anytime throughout the year, customers can confidently shop Amazon’s vast selection of amazing products with the A-to-z Guarantee.”

Image of Amazon website (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

BEWARE OF ENCRYPTED PDFs AS THE LATEST TRICK TO DELIVER MALWARE TO YOU

How can Amazon customers stay safe?

1. Watch out for red flags: Some telltale signs of an impersonation scam include requests for account or payment information and creating a false sense of urgency. Amazon will never ask for your password, payment or bank transfer through phone, email or any external website. Scammers might reference a purchase (real or fake), a giveaway, a prize or claim that “your account is locked,” urging you to click a link, make a payment or buy a gift card.

2. Verify the email: For any questions related to an order, always check your order history on Amazon.com or via the “Amazon Shopping” app. Only legitimate purchases will appear in your order history. If you are ever unsure about the legitimacy of an email, go to Amazon’s website or app to access the Message Center and review authentic communications.

In addition, you should always check the sender’s email address by hovering over the “From” name and verify it’s a genuine Amazon email, which will come from “@amazon.com.”

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An Amazon email (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

3. Beware of phishing links: Avoid clicking on random links, especially in messages about shopping deals, order confirmations or account issues. Scammers often use fake links to mimic legitimate retailers and steal your information. 

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

4. Don’t fall for “too good to be true” offers: Scammers often lure victims with irresistible deals, such as huge discounts on popular products or “exclusive” offers. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. These offers might be tied to fake websites or phishing attempts designed to steal your personal and financial details. Always double-check the legitimacy of any deal before making a purchase. If you’re unsure, visit the official Amazon site or app to search for the product and compare prices.

5. Use a personal data removal service: Scammers can obtain your information from various online sources, including data brokers, people search sites and public records. Using a data removal service can help reduce your digital footprint, making it harder for scammers to access your personal information. This proactive step can be crucial in preventing identity theft and minimizing the chances of falling victim to scams during the busy holiday season.

While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.

6. Report suspicious activity: If you encounter an impersonation scam, your best course of action is to report it to Amazon. Knapp says, “The more consumers report scams to us, the better our tools get at identifying bad actors so that we can take action against them and protect consumers. If consumers suspect that they have encountered a scam, they can report suspicious communications to us at amazon.com/ReportAScam, so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep consumers safe.”

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Kurt’s key takeaway

Scammers will do their best to ruin your holiday season, but most of their tactics can be easily avoided with the right tools and a little common sense. Be cautious of unsolicited texts, emails or phone calls offering deals, discounts or asking for your personal information. If you’re shopping on Amazon, track everything through the Amazon app and reach out to their customer support for any concerns or questions.

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