/Thriveon_logo_IT.svg "Thriveon_logo_IT.svg"){kind=logo}
As the holiday season approaches, people are getting excited about the winter break. Unfortunately, so are cyber criminals. The end of the year brings a surge in online shopping, holiday travel, charitable donations and gift-giving, providing ample opportunities for scammers to capitalize on generosity and trust.
Staying vigilant and recognizing the latest holiday scams can help you avoid becoming a target. Let’s dive into the most common tactics and how to safeguard yourself.
Read: IT Best Practices for the Holiday Season
1. Fake Shipping Notifications
With a high volume of online shopping during the holiday season, it’s easy to lose track of what’s arriving when, especially if a loved one is sending you a gift. Scammers exploit this by sending fraudulent texts, emails or phone calls claiming to be from shipping companies, like the U.S. Postal Service; they reach out and claim your package is delayed or requires payment for redirection. These messages often include links or attachments that claim to track your “lost” package, but they actually lead to phishing websites or install malware.
How to avoid: Don’t click on links in unsolicited messages. Check the tracking status directly from the trusted retailer’s website or delivery service app.
2. Gift Card Scams
Gift cards are a popular holiday gift, but they’re also a favorite tool for scammers. You may receive an email or message claiming that a loved one has sent you a gift card or that you’ve won a free gift card, but it turns out to be a phishing attempt. When you try to redeem the gift card, it steals all your personal information or installs malware on your device.
How to avoid: Don’t click on links in suspicious messages – instead, hover over the links to see the actual URL. Only purchase gift cards from trusted retailers.
3. Charity Scams
The holiday season inspires generosity, and many legitimate charities ask for donations during this time. However, scammers are ready to take advantage of our desire to help. Fraudulent charity websites and donation requests often pop up, impersonating legitimate organizations.
How to avoid: Research the charity through trusted platforms like Charity Navigator, CharityWatch or GuideStar. Donate directly via the charity’s official website rather than through links in emails or messages. Avoid donating with gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency, as you can’t track the payment.
4. Fake Travel Deals
Scammers lure holiday travelers with irresistible travel deals during the season. They create websites that look official but end up stealing your personal or financial information. You might receive offers for discounted airfare, hotel stays or vacation packages that seem too good to pass up, only to find out later that they were fraudulent – either the deal was more than the advertised price, the reservation wasn’t actually made or you can’t get a refund.
How to avoid: Book travel only through reputable travel agencies, airline websites and rental platforms. Be wary of last-minute “deals” prices significantly lower than the market rate, especially for luxury or high-demand items. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Consider using travel insurance if there are any delays or cancellations.
5. Fake Online Stores
Holiday shopping brings an increase in fake websites and social media ads offering incredible deals and discounts on popular gifts, especially on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. These sites have professional-looking designs that mimic legitimate retailers, but they’re set up to steal your money or personal information.
How to avoid: Be cautious with websites you’ve never heard of or shopped at before. Search for the retailer independently to verify its legitimacy. Check reviews and look for a secure “https” connection in the URL.
6. Holiday Job Scams
Many people look for seasonal jobs around the holidays to make some extra money, and scammers know this. Fake job postings appear on social media and job boards, promising high pay for simple tasks but asking for upfront fees or personal information.
How to avoid: Be cautious of jobs that ask for upfront payment for “job supplies” or “training materials.” Avoid any position requiring bank details or personal information before hiring is confirmed. Search for jobs on reputable job boards.
Read: Secure Your Online Activity During the Holidays
Additional Tips for Staying Safe
- Safeguard your passwords: Protect your online accounts from unauthorized access with strong, complex passwords. Never use the same password for multiple online shopping accounts or online banking portals. Consider using a password manager to create and store these passwords.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA): MFA is a security feature that requires you to take an extra step to verify your identity before you can log in.
- Check your financial statements: Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for suspicious activity or unauthorized charges, especially if you’ve been shopping online frequently.
- Use credit cards: If possible, use credit cards for online purchases. Credit cards offer better protection against fraud than debit cards.
Stay Safe with Thriveon
By staying informed and practicing caution, you can enjoy a safe and stress-free holiday season. Consider partnering with Thriveon – we offer managed IT and cybersecurity services to protect your company from cyber criminals during the holiday season. Schedule a meeting now to see how we can keep you safe and jolly this holiday season.