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Christmas Holiday Inbox Alert: Don’t Get Scammed!

The long holiday season is around the corner. While everyone is busy planning for the vacation, shopping, and gifting, scammers are gearing up to scam millions with festive-themed emails. They want to get your personal details and money under the cover of holiday mailers.

Scams covering discounts and lotteries to campaigns full of phishing have started flooding millions of inboxes globally.

• 1 in 5 online shoppers in India reported being a victim of online fraud during the holidays. (Source: Norton Cyber Security).
• Phishing scams (45%), online shopping scams (25%), and lottery scams (15%) are the most common types of holiday scams in India. (According to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In))
• 30% of Indians reported receiving fake emails or messages claiming to be from popular e-commerce websites. (Source: Kaspersky Lab).
• The average financial loss per person due to online scams in India is around ₹30,000. (Source: RBI).

Popular Christmas-Themed Scams in India

During the holiday season, scammers often exploit the festive spirit to deceive people, making it crucial for consumers to stay cautious. Many of these scams appear to be legitimate holiday communications, but they are actually designed to steal sensitive data or money. Cybercriminals impersonate well-known brands or financial institutions, damaging the reputation of businesses and eroding customer trust.

Here are some common Christmas email scam trends in India for 2024:

1. Fake Holiday Discounts

Scammers offer unbelievable discounts on popular products, such as smartphones, electronics, and clothing, through emails. These messages typically contain links that lead users to fraudulent websites designed to steal financial details. According to a report by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), phishing attacks during the festive season have increased by over 20% in 2023, with a rise in fake discount schemes targeting online shoppers.

2. Fraudulent Charity Appeals

Many scammers take advantage of people’s generosity during Christmas by sending emails that appear to be from charitable organizations, asking for donations for “Christmas causes.” These emails often redirect funds to scammers instead of helping those in need. As per data from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), donation scams have become a frequent tactic during the festive season, with a noticeable uptick in 2023.

3. Lottery and Prize Scams

These scams typically claim that the recipient has won a large sum of money or expensive prizes, such as cars or holidays. Victims are asked to provide personal information or pay a fee to “claim their prize.” According to CyberPeace Foundation, 25% of online lottery-related scams reported in India are linked to holiday-themed frauds.

4. The Fake Amazon Login Notification Scam

A common scam in India, especially around the holidays, involves fake Amazon-branded emails claiming suspicious activity on the user’s account. These emails often contain alarming messages saying that the account is locked due to a virus or unauthorized access. The scam attempts to lure victims into clicking malicious links or calling a fake support number, resulting in identity theft or malware infection. A report from Tech Mahindra identified this as a prevalent scam targeting online shoppers during the festive season.

 

Other Christmas Scams

The holiday season also sees a rise in several other types of scams, including:

1. BMW and Rolls Royce Lottery Scams

Scammers often send emails claiming that the recipient has won luxury cars or large sums of money. These fraudulent emails typically ask for sensitive personal details, such as the full name, address, and phone number. Reports from the Cyber Crime Cell of Delhi Police indicate a 15% increase in such lottery scams during the Christmas period.

2. Facebook Meta Lottery Scam

Victims are told they’ve won large sums of money (e.g., ₹50 lakh) in a Christmas lottery organized by Facebook. Scammers then ask for personal information to “process the claim,” leading to financial loss and identity theft.

3. Fake Retailer Discounts

Scammers frequently spoof well-known brands in India, such as Flipkart, Myntra, and Big Bazaar, offering “exclusive holiday deals” that lead to phishing websites or malicious downloads. During the 2023 holiday season, nearly 18% of Indian internet users reported encountering fake online retailer promotions.

4. Fake Loyalty Points Expiration

Users are prompted to “redeem” their rewards through fraudulent portals after receiving emails that indicate loyalty points (from banks or e-commerce sites) are about to expire. According to the Indian Banks’ Association, such scams are on the rise, especially targeting users of digital banking apps during the holiday season.

5. Electricity-Saving Scams

A new trend involves fake promotions for electricity-saving devices, often linked to prominent figures like Elon Musk or Tesla. These scams promise unrealistic savings, such as 90% reductions on electric bills, and offer special “Christmas discounts” for fraudulent gadgets. Scams like this have been rising in India, with over 12% of complaints registered in 2023 related to fake energy-saving devices, according to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

How to Stay Safe This Holiday Season in India

To safeguard yourself and your loved ones from falling victim to holiday scams, here are some tips:

• Be cautious with unsolicited emails: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown senders, especially if the deal seems too good to be true.
• Verify charitable donations: Research charities independently and use trusted donation platforms like GiveIndia or Benevity.
• Double-check delivery notifications: Instead of clicking links in emails, visit the carrier’s official website to track packages.
• Ignore urgent scam messages: If you receive alarming messages claiming your device is infected, do not respond. Verify the message by visiting the official website or calling customer support.
• Scrutinize lottery claims: Legitimate lotteries never ask winners to provide personal details via unsolicited emails.
• Use trusted cybersecurity tools: Protect your devices with reliable antivirus and total security solutions, such as Protegent. The software provides total security that offers real-time protection against viruses, malware, and phishing attacks, ensuring that you can shop and browse online safely. Protegent is the best and most affordable antivirus software thatprovides features such as privacy protection, secure online banking, and data backup, which are essential during the holiday season when scams are prevalent.

By staying vigilant, cross-checking suspicious claims, and using effective cybersecurity tools like Protegent, you can enjoy a secure and scam-free festive season. Protegent’s advanced total security features ensure your devices remain safeguarded from emerging threats, giving you peace of mind during the holidays.

Wishing you a safe and joyous Christmas!