Beware of holiday scams, as you decorate and celebrate, stay vigilant
As the holiday shopping season approaches, cybercriminals are on the prowl, targeting unsuspecting shoppers with a variety of scams. To help you navigate this digital minefield, here's a comprehensive guide on identifying common cyber threats and how to avoid them.
**Social Engineering & Phishing:** Scammers often use social engineering tactics to trick shoppers into revealing sensitive information. Be wary of phishing emails and messages, especially those with links to fake deals or urgent-sounding warnings. These communications may appear to come from trusted retailers but actually direct you to fraudulent sites designed to steal your data or infect your device with malware.
**Fake Websites & Unsecure Links:** Fraudulent online stores often mimic legitimate retailers, using misspelled domain names or unsecured (“http” instead of “https”) sites. Always check for the padlock icon and “https” in the URL before entering any personal or payment information.
**QR Code Scams:** Scammers may distribute malicious QR codes via email, social media, or physical flyers. Scanning these codes can lead to fake websites or malware installation. Never scan QR codes from untrusted sources, and check if codes have been tampered with or placed over legitimate ones.
**Remote Access & Tech Support Scams:** Fraudulent calls or messages pretending to be tech support or customer service may ask to remotely access your device. These are often attempts to steal information or install malware.
**Hyper-Personalized, Data-Driven Scams:** Following major data breaches, criminals increasingly tailor scams using stolen personal information, making them harder to detect.
To protect yourself, follow these best practices:
- **Verify Senders and Websites:** Always check the authenticity of the sender’s email address or website domain. Never click on unsolicited links—instead, navigate directly to the retailer’s official site. - **Look for Security Indicators:** Only shop on secure sites with “https” and a padlock icon in the address bar. Avoid sites with suspicious design, misspelled URLs, or slow loading times. - **Be Wary of Too-Good-to-Be-True Offers:** If a deal seems unrealistic, it’s likely a scam. Double-check any offers on the retailer’s official website before purchasing. - **Protect Personal Information:** Never share sensitive data in response to unsolicited messages. Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication where possible. - **Update Devices and Use Security Software:** Keep your devices and apps updated to patch vulnerabilities. Install reputable antivirus and anti-malware software to detect and block threats in real time. - **Avoid QR Codes from Unknown Sources:** Only scan QR codes from trusted providers. If in doubt, access the website directly from your browser. - **Be Skeptical of Urgent Messages:** Scammers create a false sense of urgency to prompt quick, mistake-prone actions. Take your time to verify before responding. - **Monitor Accounts and Credit Reports:** Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions, and consider freezing your credit to prevent identity theft.
Remember, if an offer, deal, or message seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t legitimate. Fake charities may ask for donations during the holiday season, and holiday giveaways that require sensitive personal information or payment for "shipping" are likely scams.
If you encounter a scam, report it to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker, local authorities, and/or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Dave Hatter, an award-winning technology leader with over 30 years of software engineering and cybersecurity experience, offers this advice: "Never scan a QR code in the wild, as it can lead to phishing sites. Inspect QR codes before scanning them."
By following these best practices, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to holiday cyber threats. Happy and safe shopping!
- As the holiday season advances, the rise in cybercrime not only targets online shoppers through phishing emails but also manipulates data-driven scams, using stolen personal information.
- In the realm of technology and arts, it's crucial to be aware that scammers may distribute malicious QR codes or fake websites, camouflaging as legitimate retailers, while cybersecurity measures remain pertinent to safeguard sensitive data, especially during the holiday shopping season.
