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Saying this would not be incorrect that holidays are the most important time of the year for individuals. This is the ultimate time when one prefers to unwind and spend moments with their loved ones. It is also the time of the year when people rush to purchase gifts for their special ones.
Like customers, businesses these days have started to get ready for the yearly shopping as the holiday season approaches. On the other hand, cybercriminals are constantly coming up with new schemes to obtain valuable data from customers. According to CyberGhost, these schemes may range from malware infections to phishing emails and more. To find out how to strengthen the cyber defences, keep reading until the end.
What Do You Mean by Holiday Cyber Scams?
Holiday cyber scams can be understood as those which take place over the holidays when discounts and deals are available. These are internet frauds and happen at this time of the year as more customers turn to shopping.
When these scams are conducted, the aim revolves around acquiring the personal and financial details of the customers. As criminal gain is the motive, there are many ways through which this can be prevented. When customers become aware of these scams, they can easily avoid them and save themselves.
What are the Types of Holiday Cyber Scams Present?
There are different types of holiday cyber scams present in today’s time which can easily trap you. Some of the types of holiday cyber scams are listed below.
● Charity Scams
The charity scams increase during the holiday season as people are encouraged to make donations. Instead of making payments immediately, make sure to do your research and donate only if the organization seems trusted.
● Fake Websites
There are fake websites created where people visit to shop for gifts for their loved ones. Without any doubt, they hand over their personal and financial details to the scammers.
● Social Media Scams
As you may use social media platforms, you may come across fake ads which may offer discounts. Knowing if they are real may be hard to find out. Before making any payments, remember to check the account that may have posted the ad.
● Fake Stores
There are fake stores online available, especially during the holiday season. They may offer products at a huge discount which may attract customers. Until the website appears to be genuine in any way, do not make any purchase.
● Fake Shipping Scams
Fake shipping scams have become very common these days. Usually, the scammers send shipping emails and SMS to the people to whom they may send a link. As you click on the link, it may infect the device and collect all the useful information.
● Holiday Travel Scams
Taking advantage of the holiday season, the scammers may send offers and discounts asking you to go on a vacation. As you click the link, they may take you to a fake website where they would collect your details and scam you.
5 Things You Should Know About Such Scams to Avoid It
There are many ways you can avoid such scams. Some of these things are listed below which you must not forget to consider as you step do your holiday shopping
i) Keep Everything Updated
Besides keeping yourself updated, you must focus on keeping everything else updated. This includes the mobile system and laptop alongside the applications, browsers and software present in it. As you do this, it can be your best defence against becoming a victim of online malware and phishing.
ii) Choose Reliable Websites
The next thing that you must know is that reliable websites can always be used without any worry. It does not matter if you are a last-minute shopper or not – it is always a great choice to make purchases from reliable websites. To proceed, make sure to carefully check the URLs of the websites.
It is essential to keep in mind that hackers create ” deal ” websites for gullible consumers. When they visit, customers enter their data and receive an additional ” gift “. This is when the information is stolen. However, the underlying truth is that you are paying with malware or your identity.
iii) Be Mindful Throughout
When using social media at this time of the year, try to be as mindful as possible. There are scams common all around the year, but during this time it happen frequently. It may start with Phishing social media advertisements that resemble real advertisements.
Somehow these may direct you to fake websites. Another way it can happen is by signing up for gift exchanges on social media or purchasing from a stranger hoping to get more gifts. Even though exchanging these gifts may be unlawful, they are intended to steal your details. Hence, try to avoid sharing your information as much as possible as it could lead to scams.
iv) Keep an Eye for Fraud
Another thing that must be done is to check for fraud in the financial records. In other words, you need to check your credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts and payment apps for any kind of fraud.
You must also review the purchases that you may have made and balance them closely. Even if you do not do this very often throughout the year, make sure to be certain this time. In case, you spot any kind of fraud in your account, make sure to report it right away to the legal authorities and seek help.
v) Be Attentive Toward Phishing Assaults
Phishing is likely to increase throughout the holiday season and all the scammers become active more than ever. During this time, you may come across phishers who may have created imitations of brands.
Also, you may find order receipts that may be counterfeit or phoney delivery notifications. Phishing attempts are disguised as authentic emails which may become difficult for you to differentiate. So do not forget to be vigilant and alert all the time. Also, do not click on anything to avoid becoming a victim of assault.
