The festive season is in full swing. Shopping centers are full of people and holiday deals. Online shopping also peaks during this time. Unfortunately, this is also a time to be extra vigilant. Scammers and cybercriminals ramp up their efforts to exploit the holiday cheer. With the rapid growth of e-commerce, staying vigilant while shopping and surfing online during Christmas is essential. Here we have some practical tips and commons scams to avoid ensuring you enjoy a safe and joyful holiday season.
Scammers at Christmas: The Grim Statistics
Before diving into tips, let’s look at the numbers. A 2023 report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) highlights significant losses. Australians lost over $450 million to scams in the previous year. There was a significant spike during the holiday season. Similarly, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the U.S. reported a 25% increase in online fraud complaints in December compared to other months.
The statistics are staggering:
- Phishing Attacks: Over 76% of holiday-related scams originate from phishing emails that trick users into divulging sensitive information.
- Fake Online Stores: Around 30% of online shoppers report encountering fake e-commerce websites, often losing hundreds of dollars per transaction.
- Delivery Scams: With package deliveries surging during Christmas, scammers exploit this trend by sending fraudulent delivery notices to steal personal information.
These figures highlight the need to remain vigilant when navigating the online holiday frenzy.
Tricks and Scams to Watch Out For
Online scams are as varied as the gifts we exchange. Let me share some of the most common tactics scammers use:
- Phishing Emails: These emails often mimic trusted retailers or delivery services, offering irresistible deals or claiming issues with your package. For example, you might receive an email stating, “Your package could not be delivered; click here to reschedule.” Clicking the link could lead to malware installation or a fake login page that harvests your credentials.
- Fake Online Stores: These sites look just like legitimate e-commerce platforms, complete with professional designs and glowing reviews. Scammers often lure shoppers with too-good-to-be-true discounts, only to disappear after receiving payments.
- Social Media Ads: Fraudulent ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram promote counterfeit goods or items that never arrive. These ads typically target users with tailored offers based on their browsing history.
- Gift Card Scams: Scammers may trick victims into purchasing gift cards as “secure” payment methods. Once the card details are shared, the scammers vanish, leaving victims with no recourse.
- Charity Scams: The season of giving inspires generosity, but it’s also exploited by fraudsters who create fake charity websites to collect donations.
Our Experience with Holiday Scams
We receive calls weekly from clients. They fall for phishing emails and fake online stores. These scams seem to come from well-known retailers offering incredible discounts. There are also scams from utility and insurance companies asking to verify customer details. They click the link and enter their information and card details without thinking twice and days later, when their credit card company alerts them of unusual charges, they realise they’ve been duped. Thankfully, they call us to clean out their computer and the bank locks their account down but the stress and inconvenience is unforgettable.
5 Tips to Stay Safe Online This Christmas
Here are some steps to take to protect yourself while shopping and surfing online:
- Verify Before You Click: Always double-check the sender’s email address or URL before clicking on links. Legitimate companies rarely send unsolicited emails with links asking for personal or financial information. If in doubt, visit the retailer’s official website directly by typing the URL into your browser.
- Stick to Trusted Retailers: Shop only on websites you know and trust. Look for “https” in the URL and a padlock icon in the browser address bar, indicating the site uses secure encryption. Avoid unfamiliar websites unless you can independently verify their legitimacy.
- Use Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Protect your online accounts by using unique, complex passwords for each site. Enable 2FA wherever possible to add an extra layer of security.
- Beware of Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi networks are convenient but often insecure. Avoid accessing sensitive accounts or making payments when connected to public Wi-Fi. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for secure browsing.
- Monitor Your Statements: Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions. Report any suspicious activity immediately to your financial institution.
The Spirit of Christmas: A Time for Awareness
It’s disheartening that scammers take advantage of the holiday spirit. Staying informed and vigilant can protect you from their schemes. Shopping for loved ones and connecting online should bring joy, not stress. Use these tips to avoid any unpleasant scams. If you feel you have been the subject of a scam, call your bank first to check. Then give us a call to check your computer.
We hope you have a peaceful, safe and joyful christmas and new year.