The holidays bring joy, vacation time, and overall good vibes, people generally are in the spirit of giving but it’s not all hot chocolate and gifts. Along with the holiday vibes comes stress and people who take advantage of the distracted and vulnerable. Most people are busy trying to stretch their finances to afford presents, making travel plans and rushing to get everything done before taking a few days off. With everything going on during the holidays it can make you a target for online scammers. Scammers are always looking for their next victim, and unfortunately the holiday season creates good opportunities for online scams and identity theft. While scams and identity theft can happen, it also be completely avoidable.
The number one reason behind identity theft is online shopping, sure it’s fast and easy and can be done from the comfort pf your home, but it is also very risky. Be mindful of the websites you are shopping on and be aware of holiday deals that seem to good to be true. Take extra precautions in protecting your passwords, use different passwords across different websites, and think about maybe setting up extra security with more identity verification. Avoid shopping on public Wi-Fi, most public networks are unsecure. Watch out for card skimming devices that are attached to ATMs and card readers.
Although fraud is at a higher risk during the holiday season, it can be avoided. Just keep this advice in mind, especially as you work your way down your shopping list amid the frenzy of the season. Most importantly, stay safe this holiday season.
What makes holiday scams especially dangerous is that they can take numerous different forms.
Here are some of the most common ways that scammers target you during the holidays:
- Social media ads that lead you to fake online stores. Fraudsters use ads on social media to try to get you to go to fake stores that steal your money, credit card details, or personal information. In the worst-case scenario, you could even become the victim of identity theft.
- Fake delivery notification texts. Scammers send fake text messages claiming that a package you’re waiting for has been delayed or that you need to pay a fee before it can be delivered.
- Fraudulent charities that steal your money. Con artists create fake charities or GoFundMe campaigns to trick you into sending money or sharing your personal information.
- Bogus deals on hard-to-find items or airline tickets. Many schemes take advantage of popular holiday items or inflated travel costs to get you to buy fake tickets or items.
- Fake surveys, giveaways, and other phishing emails impersonating well-known brands. Scammers send emails (as well as texts and phone calls) claiming to be from companies you know, such as Amazon or Walmart. These messages use social engineering tactics to steal your passwords, personal information, and financial details.
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