We have heard our share of information about hackers, scammers and thieves this year.
Unfortunately, the internet is more dangerous than ever during the holidays. Data breaches and attacks are happening all around us.
Scams are spreading rapidly this holiday season and, according to Cybercrime, here’s what you need to know to keep your accounts safe.
Phishing schemes are usually found in emails that pretend to be from a trusted source. The most common schemes often purport to be from Amazon and Apple and claim your account has been disabled. They provide a “link” to “reset your password.” Don’t fall for this scam; just delete the email.
Apple and Amazon both have vigorous protections in place and will not ask for your personal information directly. When in doubt, you can contact Apple customer care at 1-800-275-2273 or Amazon customer service at 1-888-280-4331.
Another scam that may find its way to your inbox involves emails about “your order” and how you must verify your identity to save your item from being seized or cancelled. None of the major retailers ask for this kind of information online.
Gift cards can be useful for people on your gift-giving list. Once a gift card is purchased, the funds are in the card and become untraceable. It’s important that you ignore cybercriminal attempts to scam you in by pretending to be a friend or co-worker and requesting information on your gift card. Don’t divulge any information about your gift card online.
Sometimes coupon codes are useless and, at other times, they are too good to be true. Double coupons and discounts are spammed across the internet in online advertisements and elsewhere. Many scammers pay for promoted ads on social media and search engines, which can make the ads look legitimate. Instead of hunting through scammed coupon code sites, you should use a trusted site like Honey, which automatically scans and applies coupon codes from verified retailers.
Anyone with children knows that action figures sold on eBay are a big draw, especially for holidays and birthdays. If you can find the gift you want for less than half the retail price, you may be tempted to buy it. The only problem is that it could be a cheap toy knock-off.
To stay safe, always check the photos you see online against common stock photos and, if the same image is found in multiple listings, there’s a good chance it’s a fake. Using Pay-Pal to pay can give you some protection, so avoid paying with your credit or debit card online.
If you suspect any type of scam and you’re still not sure if the messages you are getting are legitimate, give one of these customer-service lines a call to verify. Make sure you have your tracking number and order information handy when you call.
Amazon customer care – 1-888-280-4331
UPS customer care – 1-800-742-5877
FedEx customer care – 1-800-463-3339
