By being aware of these common online scams and taking precautions, you can protect yourself and your family from becoming victims this holiday season.
The holiday season is upon us, and that means it's time to start shopping for gifts.
It's not just the hustle and bustle of the holiday season that you need to be aware of; there are also online scams that target unsuspecting consumers.
Whether you're shopping online or browsing social media, understanding these 9 common online scams can help keep your family safe this holiday season.
Phishing emails remain a top concern for online shoppers.
These deceptive messages attempt to trick you into revealing sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers.
These sites look like real stores but they are actually set up by scammers looking to steal your credit card information.
To protect yourself from this type of scam, always research a company before you make a purchase, read customer reviews, and check for secure payment methods such as PayPal or credit card processing.
Criminals often take advantage of people's generosity during the holidays by creating fake charities and soliciting donations from unsuspecting victims.
Never give out your credit card number over the phone or via email; instead opt for secure payment methods such as PayPal or direct bank transfer when possible.
Scammers will often create fake social media profiles in order to send messages that appear to come from someone you know in order to gain access to sensitive information such as passwords or bank account numbers.
If you receive any suspicious messages on social media platforms, make sure you verify who the message is coming from before responding with any personal information.
People get lonely, so dating scams are pretty common during the holiday season.
Dating scammers create fake profiles on dating websites in order to gain access to people's personal information or even money through fraudulent promises of love and companionship.
Gift card fraud occurs when someone purchases gift cards with stolen credit cards in order to resell them at a discounted price online or in person.
Another example of gift card fraud is when a scammer convinces you to buy a gift card and then share the information on how to use it with them, allowing them to steal your money.
To protect yourself against gift card fraud, always buy directly from retailers like Target or Walmart and never purchase pre-loaded cards from third-party sellers and never buy a gift card for someone you've met online.
Be wary of any requests for personal information that come via social media - even if they appear to come from someone you know - as these could easily be fake accounts set up by scammers targeting unsuspecting victims.
Another common scam during the holiday season is fake deals and coupons.
Scammers will create fake websites that offer unbelievable discounts on items such as electronics or clothing but never actually deliver those items after they've taken payment from unsuspecting customers.
This Cyber News was published on blog.avast.com. Publication date: Mon, 04 Dec 2023 13:43:04 +0000