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12 Cyber Scams to Avoid this Holiday with Protegent

The holidays are around the corner and people are gearing up for shopping Christmas and New Year. It is a great time to unwind and relax with loved ones for most people. Customers frequently hurry to get gifts for their loved ones around this time.

Cybercriminals create new schemes, such as malware infections and phishing emails, at this time of year to obtain the personal information of unwary customers.

A study by Centum claims that the holidays cause a 40% rise in cyberattacks. The most recent Christmas ransomware analysis conducted by Cyberseason discovered that (19%) of businesses that experienced attacks during that period lost more money.

This post will examine some of the riskiest online frauds over the holidays and provide a few easy precautions you can take to keep your data safe from dishonest hackers.

 

Scams to Avoid this Holiday

Cybercriminals will employ a variety of strategies in their attempt to coerce you into providing your personal information. Here are 12 of the most typical con games:

1. Phishing scams: One of the most common frauds that are going around is phishing. Cybercriminals will send you emails selling phoney items at low costs in an attempt to fool you into clicking on a link that will take you to a phishing website, while genuine businesses send their clients last-minute email marketing their products. To obtain your personal information, scammers may also attempt to fool you into opening harmful email attachments and infecting your device with malware.

2. False Social Media Advertisements: Fraudsters are aware that many shoppers like searching social media for deals. They frequently create fictitious online profile sites and advertise products at lower-than-average costs in an attempt to entice customers to make purchases. The proprietor of the phoney business might take the payment information after the victim gives them over and use them to make transactions elsewhere. These kinds of assaults are common; in 2020, complaints of scams involving online purchases accounted for 38.3% of all frauds.

3. Scams with False Shipping Notifications: A bogus shipment notification scam is one kind of social engineering fraud that online criminals frequently employ. The attacker in this scam will pretend to be a delivery company such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, or DHL, and will send you an email or SMS message. The message will ask you to “schedule the delivery” of your package and include a link that will send you to a phishing website where malicious software will try to infect your device and steal your data.

4. Disaster Relief/Charity Scams: Hackers try to take advantage of people’s generosity around the holidays by fabricating schemes about disaster aid and charity. On social media, scammers will ask users to donate to charities and people; in exchange, they will take the users’ money and personal data. Protegent’s robust antivirus software protection helps prevent malicious software from compromising your charitable transactions.

5. Fake Websites: Phishing or fraudulent websites pose a significant risk to users. To trick customers into making a purchase, cybercriminals frequently build “eCommerce” websites that are search engine optimized and present products at reasonable pricing. The hackers will then capture the victim’s payment data as soon as they are given to them and utilize them later on to perpetrate identity theft and fraudulent transactions.

6. Gift Card Scams: Attackers may send emails to their victims stating they have won or received a gift card during the Christmas season when gift card use is prevalent. However, they’ll tell you have to pay a shipping cost or provide your personal information to claim it. If you come across a message like this, keep in mind that reputable businesses won’t want cash to give you a gift card. Protegent’s anti-spyware feature can safeguard against malicious software that may attempt to compromise your sensitive data.

7. Travel Scams: Cyberscams during the holidays don’t just affect online shoppers. Attackers are also using folks who are planning vacations to further their nefarious goals. Typically, they provide reduced lodging, vacation packages, or phoney travel discounts. These offers come in the form of phishing emails, albeit some of them could direct you to a phoney travel website to make their offers appear genuine. Protegent’s real-time protection shields against malicious websites that may try to compromise your device.

8. E-card Scams: It is customary for people to send electronic greeting cards on special occasions. But be cautious with these, since cybercriminals have started to exploit this ancient holiday custom. They could transmit links to malware or phishing emails in bogus e-cards. If you get any electronic cards this holiday season, be sure the sender is legitimate and avoid downloading files and clicking on links. Protegent’s real-time scanning ensures that your system is protected against potential threats hidden in digital greetings.

9. Wi-Fi Network Spoofing: Attackers can create rogue Wi-Fi networks in congested public spaces like airports and malls around the holidays. Sensitive data might be intercepted by the attack if a person connects to them. Over the holidays, stay off public Wi-Fi, especially if you’re doing online shopping.

10. Tech Support Scams: Scams involving tech help are increasing in frequency around the holidays. An attacker will use your mobile device to call you or send you an email to carry it out. They will notify you about gadget problems while posing as tech help agents from respectable firms. But they’ll ask for remote access to your computer so they can assist you in fixing the problem. Some may even demand money for the services rendered. Recall that an authentic tech support provider won’t get in touch with its clients if they don’t want to.

11. Package Theft Scams: The busiest time of year for parcel delivery to residences or workplaces is during the holiday shopping frenzy. Attackers are using package theft schemes as a means of profit. They will pretend to be a delivery service and tell you that an attempted delivery of a shipment you purchased was unsuccessful. They will request your personal information or want you to click on a link to reschedule. This kind of letter should be verified with the courier service, and you should not click on any links in the email. Avoid clicking on links in unexpected delivery emails, and use Protegent’s email security features to filter out potential threats.

12. Job Offer Scams: December is a peak season for job seekers. Scammers are exploiting this by offering fake job opportunities. They’ll pretend to be a recruiter, requesting personal information or sometimes even payment for training materials. If you receive a job offer during this season, verify its legitimacy by contacting the company in their official channels.

Ways to Stay Safe Online During the Holidays

Security knowledge is essential to safeguarding your personal information from online scammers over the Christmas season since there are a lot of them out there. The following are some simple actions you may take to make yourself a far more difficult target for scammers:

1. Don’t open attachments or links from unknown senders: Never click on any email links or attachments if you receive one from an unfamiliar source. They might take you to a phishing website or infect your computer with malware. When giving information on a website you’ve never visited before after clicking on a link, use caution. Never give critical information, such as passwords, to websites you are unsure of. Instead of clicking links, manually input the website URL of the company or merchant you wish to visit online.

2. Aware of efforts at Smishing: Phishing websites are frequently linked in SMS messages sent by attackers to fool you into providing personal information. You should not click on a link in an SMS message you get from someone since it is probably an effort at smashing. Additionally, you should exercise caution while sending sensitive information by SMS.

3. Be wary of efforts at vishing: Vishing is the term used when a con artist uses phone scams to mislead their victims into paying money, accessing a phoney website, or divulging personal information. Never trust someone who calls you on the phone without your permission! In case you have any doubts regarding the authenticity of the call, end the conversation and contact the organization or agency using their official customer support lines.

4. Shop only from reputable stores: You can find cheaper pricing by using social media and search engines to look for offers, but the likelihood of falling victim to a scam is far higher than if you stick to recognized businesses. Purchasing from reputable merchants helps lessen the chance that a scammer may obtain your personal information. If you’re not sure how reputable the firm is, just look it up on the BBB Scam Tracker. You may also search Reddit for fraud alerts or complaints regarding the retailer. Moreover, attempt to stay away from purchasing gift cards via auction websites. Pay a little extra to get them straight from a reliable provider. Simply consider it a contribution for your protection.

5. Use phishing simulators to practice recognizing phishing emails: One of the largest risks to your personal information is phishing efforts, so learn how to recognize them on your own and safeguard your personal information by using phishing simulators.
6. Make Robust Passwords for Your Online Accounts: In an attempt to obtain your credit card information and personal information, several hackers will attempt to guess or breach your account using your login and password. By choosing strong passwords for your accounts that combine capital, lowercase, digits, and symbols, you may make this more challenging for them. Additionally, it’s a good idea to use unique passwords for all of your online accounts to prevent an attacker from accessing any of them.

7. Employ MFA, or multi-factor authentication: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is another way to increase the difficulty of hackers accessing your online accounts. Using MFA is essential because it prevents hackers from accessing the passcode that is delivered to your trusted device or email address, so even if they manage to get their hands on your password, they will be unable to log in.
8. Protect your devices with antivirus and malware software: It’s essential to install the most recent security updates along with anti-malware and antivirus software on your devices to make sure there are no holes that an attacker may take advantage of.
9. Find out how to spot a phoney or unsafe website: Trusted websites usually display security indicators, such as a padlock next to the URL, which indicates that the site is currently using a valid security certificate. Nevertheless, since attackers have discovered a technique for obtaining phoney security certificates, it is insufficient to just look for these. Always look out for warning signs while viewing a website, such as misspelled words, shoddy design, odd formatting, and a lack of contact details.

10. Keep an eye on your bank statements: The holidays are a good time to increase your awareness of the transactions that appear on your account. Regularly check your accounts to make it easier for you to identify any questionable behavior. Report any irregularities you see right away to your bank.
11. Utilize your credit card while making online purchases: We advise utilizing your credit card when making travel and hotel arrangements for the holidays or when purchasing presents from Internet merchants. These include security safeguards that shield you from fraudulent transactions and prevent the attacker from having direct access to your funds. If you use a credit card and fall victim to fraud, your chances of recovering your money are higher.

 

During the holidays, protect yourself from cybersecurity scams

Generally speaking, you should believe your instincts. It’s usually true when something looks too wonderful to be true. Thus, it’s advised to proceed with caution if you come across someone selling goods on social media at prices that are lower than their market worth since there’s a good possibility they’re trying to con you.

In a digital landscape fraught with risks, Protegent antivirus software serves as a reliable ally, offering a comprehensive suite of total security with cybersecurity features to safeguard your devices and data. This holiday season, enjoy the festivities with peace of mind, knowing that Protegent is on guard against the ever-evolving threat landscape. Stay safe, stay secure, and embrace the joy of the season without falling victim to cyber scams.