It's the busiest time of year for cybercriminals. They know we will be shopping online and distracted by time constraints during the holiday hustle and bustle, making it easier to catch us off guard and fall into their traps.
There will be an increase in emails, notifications, and pop-up ads with amazing deals all asking you to CLICK on something or OPEN this to get a deal. Unfortunately, many will be fake so pay close attention and DO NOT CLICK!
Text messages (smishing) and emails (phishing) are where you will find most of these scams. If you fall for a scam, not only will you not receive the gifts you buy, you may also be out of the money you spent, or worse they have your credentials and have access to all of your accounts.
1. Be aware of parcel delivery scams via email and SMS. Always go to the official website store or app to track parcels.
Look out for texts and emails like these:
We were unable to deliver your parcel. Confirm delivery details Click here: www.yourhacker.xxx
We attempted to deliver your parcel and you weren’t home. Please verify your address, Click here: www.yourhacker.xxx
2. Only buy on official websites
The holiday season is a prime time for fake websites that look like well-known retailers. These sites are designed by scammers to trick you into entering your credit card information. Check each website’s URL to ensure it’s legitimate and secure. A site you’re buying from should have HTTPS in the web address. If it doesn’t, DO NOT enter your information on that site.
Look out for texts and emails like these:
There is an issue with your order from Amazon. Click here to fix the problem and avoid delays Click here www.yourhacker.xxx
Your order has been canceled. Click to confirm your refund www.yourhacker.xxx
3. It’s best to pay using a credit card, a 3rd-party payment service or digital wallet
Do not use a debit card, credit cards offers the most protection against fraud and loss. Check your statement regularly and contact your credit card company immediately if you notice any suspicious activity.
Get an extra layer of protection when you use PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, or Google Pay to make purchases. They are incredibly secure and effective at protecting your personal and financial information.
4. Make sure you are not reusing your passwords and login details.
Using the same email address is fine – however, don’t ever reuse your passwords. if you use the same password on multiple sites, and one of those sites gets hacked, then hackers could gain access to all your accounts.
Be on the lookout for these four common signs of a holiday shopping scam that could ruin your holiday season.
To learn more about how Identité® and Passwordless MFA, please visit us at www.identite.us
What to Do if You Spot a Holiday Shopping Scam
If you are victim or come across an online scam, report it immediately:
FTC - ReportFraud.FTC.gov
Forward texts to: 7726 (SPAM)
Forward emails to: reportphishing@apwg.org.
— By reporting scams, we help others avoid the devastating impacts.
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