It’s the end of the year and the festive season has begun. The holiday season is a time to be jolly, a time to relax and spend time with loved ones. It’s also a special time for cybercriminals who are merrily trying to steal your data. From the ever-popular phishing scams to fake charities, these attacks are continuously evolving.
Don’t let your holiday cheer turn into holiday fear this season. In this article, we’ll cover the most common holiday scams and how to be cyber savvy this festive season.
The top 5 holiday scams to watch for this season
1. Phishing scams
Phishing emails, SMS phishing, voice phishing, the phishing never ends. These emails and text messages try to trick you into clicking links or opening attachments that could ruin the festive cheer. Remember to check the details first and don’t respond to the sender immediately.
2. Fake websites
Cybercriminals will take advantage of the season and create fraudulent websites that imitate legitimate online shopping stores. These websites will offer incredible deals which are probably related to the holiday season, but then take your payment details and disappear.
3. Charity scams
This season is a time for giving but be careful not to give into the wrong hands. Cybercriminals will set up fake charities or donation pages to appeal to your generosity but be weary of organizations that you don’t know. Do your research on the charity before making the final decision so that you can be certain that your donation is going to a good cause.
4. Gift card fraud
Gift cards are a popular choice to give as presents to your friends and family. However, scammers can also manipulate gift cards to use it for their own malicious purposes. They will often use gift cards in their phishing emails to try to get you to “accept the offer”. You should stick to purchasing your gift cards from your regular retailer and online store instead.
5. Competitions and giveaways
You should be cautious if you see a competition or giveaways on social media, especially if they seem too good to be true. Scammers will use this time of year to create festive competitions to steal your information. Make sure that you only enter competitions from familiar organizations.
Tips to spot a holiday scam
Follow these tips to help keep you safe from scams this holiday:
- Check your emails for any spelling mistakes and make sure that there aren’t any typos in the sender’s email address.
- Only used trusted, secure websites. Check for the “https” or padlock next to the website’s name in the address bar.
- Don’t fall for unrealistic deals. If a deal sounds too good to be true, don’t click.
- Don’t allow the pressure of a “limited offer” cloud your judgement. Take your time to check the details to make sure that it’s not a scam.
- Don’t panic if you receive a message about a delivery for a purchase you have not made. Check the details first to make sure that it’s not scammer at work trying to grab your attention.
How to stay merry this holiday season
It’s important to protect yourself wherever possible. For you to stay merry and enjoy the season of giving, follow these tips to give yourself the gift of online safety:
- Use secure payment methods. Pay with your credit card or trusted payment services like PayPal instead of your debit card. Furthermore, avoid any direct or immediate bank transfers, and don’t use any payment methods that you have not used before.
- Enable multifactor authentication (MFA). Wherever possible, enable MFA on your accounts. MFA adds an extra layer of security so if a scammer manages to get to your password, the MFA will still block their attempts to access your account.
- Check emails and websites. If you receive an email that you did not expect, take your time to verify that the email is legitimate. Make sure that the website has an HTTPS padlock in the address bar to confirm that it is secure before proceeding with any payments.
- Use antivirus software. Ensure that your devices are protected by a well-known antivirus solution. The antivirus will identify any malicious activity and remove it from your device to keep you safe.
- Spread the awareness. Share these tips with your loved ones to help protect them online. The more they know, the less prone they are to becoming the next victim of a scam.
Stay Cyber Savvy
Don’t let cybercriminals ruin your holiday. By staying vigilant and following these tips, you can protect your personal information while enjoying the festive season. ‘Tis the season to be savvy. La la la la la!
