Don’t Let Cybercriminals Ruin Your Holidays!
Scams are not seasonal, but they are more prevalent during the holidays. Don’t let the charitable spirit of the season make you a target. Here are a few scams to stay alert for:
- Fake delivery notifications -Fake delivery notifications are a common tactic used in phishing attacks during shopping seasons. This typically involves an email or text thanking you for your purchase and telling you to open a link to track your order. Don’t get phished by slowing down and carefully review all messages before opening any links or attachments.
- Fraudulent offers – This is the classic “if it’s too good to be true, it’s probably fake” situation. Scammers love to send unrealistic offers to people, hoping someone will click a link or divulge sensitive information. Don’t fall for fraud by doing some research and remain especially skeptical of any random offers you might receive.
- Card-not-present fraud – Cybercriminals gain access to credit card information either by stealing your physical card or by hacking a website that lacks proper security measures. They’ll use that information to make fraudulent purchases online. Protect your money by remaining cautious when shopping in person and routinely review your accounts to identify unauthorized purchases.
- Package theft– Thieves are always looking for an easy opportunity to steal packages. That’s why they monitor various neighborhoods to identify when packages are delivered and when people are away. Secure your purchases by doing your best to schedule deliveries for when you’ll be home and always require a signature for expensive items.
Busy seasons equal more phishing attacks.
There will be fake offers.
There are plenty of good deals during the holidays. There are also plenty of fake offers that aim to steal money or sell inferior or fake products. As a general rule, if something sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.
There will be fake websites.
Similar to fake offers, cybercriminals are notorious for setting up fake websites designed to look legitimate. They’ll use those websites to steal banking information and other personal data.
Gift card scams are prevalent.
One way scammers steal money is by asking people to buy gift cards and relay the gift card information to the scammer. Once they receive payment, they disappear without providing the product or service to the buyer.
Give yourself the gift of personal security during the holidays by staying informed and being alert.
