The holiday season can be a hectic time, which means cybercriminals will be increasing their efforts to scam you. Stay vigilant – if something feels off, trust your instincts and verify before acting!
Here are 12 things you can look out for, so your Xmas isn’t ruined.
Fake Charity Scams
Be on the watch for scammers posing as charities asking for holiday donations, often via phone, email, or social media. Verify charities through official websites or trusted platforms.
Holiday Phishing Emails
Beware of bogus emails mimicking retailers, offering fake sales or claiming issues with your order. Look for misspellings, suspicious links, and generic greetings.
Gift Card Scams
Look out for fraudsters asking for payment in gift cards, often claiming it’s for overdue bills or prizes. Gift cards are for gifting, not payments.
Bogus Delivery Notifications
Watch for fake emails or texts claiming a package is delayed or needs redelivery. Avoid clicking links; track orders directly through the retailer.
Too-Good-to-Be-True Deals
Be cautious about online ads offering massive discounts on popular items. They will actually lead to sites offering counterfeit products, or scams to steal your credit card details. Research unfamiliar sites before purchasing.
Social Media Shopping Scams
Be on the lookout for fraudulent ads and posts on social platforms promoting fake stores. Check reviews and use trusted marketplaces.
E-Card Phishing
Watch for holiday e-cards loaded with malicious links to infect your device. Only open e-cards from people you know.
Romance Scams
Beware of fraudsters attempting to prey on lonely individuals during the holidays, building trust and asking for money. Be wary of sudden financial requests.
Travel Booking Scams
Watch out for fake travel sites offering deals targeting holiday travellers. Book only through verified travel agencies or directly with airlines and hotels.
Porch Pirates & Scams
Be extra careful about deliveries so you don’t fall foul of porch pirates. Also watch out for fake websites selling supposed anti-theft devices, or promising tracking services, but which actually aim to steal your information instead. Stick to reputable companies.
Fake Event Tickets
Be on the lookout for scammers selling counterfeit tickets to holiday concerts and events. Purchase tickets only from official vendors.
Mystery Gifts With Barcodes
Beware of unexpected deliveries with no details except a barcode that says it will reveal who the sender is. Using the barcode will take you to a malicious site looking to infect your device.