Christmas is more than a month away, but that hasn’t stopped retailers from ramping up their holiday sales and scattering decorations all over their stores. Also, it hasn’t prevented cyber criminals from moving forward with their data breaches, scams and security infiltration initiatives.
Security firm McAfee released its annual “12 Scams of the Holidays” list Tuesday in which it urged consumers to be aware of their Internet activities and anything out of the ordinary, particularly at around this time of the year when scams are abundant as consumers perform their shopping duties on their computers and other digital devices.
“As consumers shop, bank and share more while on the go, they open themselves up to threats from criminals who want to steal their personal information,” said Gary Davis, Chief Consumer Security Evangelist at McAfee, in a statement. “Understanding what to watch out for and how to properly secure their devices gives consumers additional information to protect their digital lives.”
With consumers projected to spend more than half a trillion dollars this year for Christmas, including about $106 billion in ecommerce, cyber criminals have quite the motive to invoke scams on unsuspecting victims.
Here are the 12 scams:
1. You’ve Got Mail!: Refrain from clicking on links in shipping notifications emails; verify the shipping company before handing out personal information.
2. Deceptive Advertising: If the deal is too good to be true then it probably is.
3. Chilling Charities: Be on the lookout for fraudulent and unscrupulous charities. Do your research and due diligence before making a donation.
4. Buyer Beware: Always peruse your credit card statements to ensure there wasn’t unusual activity through the point-of-sale systems.
5. iScams: With smartphones acting as methods of payment, be wary of certain mobile apps as malware could infect your device.
6. Getting Carded: A growing number of mobile devices are becoming victims of malware so confirm the ecards are from someone you know and from a trustworthy source.
7. Holiday Travel Scams: Think before you click, or just ignore fake online link deals offering low cost airfare and hotel prices.
8. Bank Robocall Scam: If you happen to receive a phone call informing you that your computer is affected with malware and your personal information is needed then be suspicious right away.
9. ATM Skimming: Forget the ATMs this year as they have become a popular source for cyber criminals as they install infectious software to steal your personal data.
10. Year in Review Traps: Be concerned about Year in Review articles as these clickbait titles can sometimes be malicious.
11. BYO…Device: Never leave your device open in the public and be very careful you don’t lose it as someone could gain access to your phone.
12. Bad USB Blues: Don’t take USBs as part of promotions because this is a popular method to spread infections programs.