7 Tips for Avoiding Shopping Scams this Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time of joy and cheer, but it can also be a time when scam artists take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers. With so many people doing their shopping online, an expected 63% according to a 2022 Deloitte study, it's important to be aware of the scams that are out there and how to avoid them.
By being aware of the common scams and taking precautions, you can have a safe and happy holiday season while doing your online retail shopping. In this article, we'll take a deep look at holiday scams, how cybercriminals use them during the season, and how to avoid them.
What are the most common types of holiday season scams?
The most common types of scams during the holiday season are online shopping scams, phishing scams, and gift card scams.
Online shopping scams involve fraudulent websites that lure shoppers into buying fake or defective products. These websites may look like legitimate online stores, but they often have poor grammar and misspellings, or they may use a different domain name than the real store. If you're unsure about a website, do some research before making a purchase.
Phishing attacks are emails or websites that pose as a trusted company or individual in order to get your sensitive information like credit card numbers, phone numbers, passwords, or bank account numbers. Be wary of any email or website that asks for personal information, especially if it's unsolicited. If you're not sure if an email is legitimate, don't click on any links and instead go to the company's website directly. You can also hover over links to see where they'll take you before clicking on them.
Gift card scams occur when scam artists purchase gift cards with stolen credit card information and then try to use them to buy other items. They may also sell you a fake or counterfeit gift card. To avoid this scam, only buy gift cards from trusted retailers and keep the receipt in case there's a problem with the card.
How do cybercriminals use holiday scams?
Cybercriminals often take advantage of the busyness of the holiday season to launch scam campaigns. They know that people are rushed and may not be as careful as they normally would be when making online purchases or clicking on links. They also know that people are more likely to be generous during the holidays and may be more likely to respond to charity scam emails or donate to fake GoFundMe pages. Be extra cautious during the holiday season and take the time to verify requests for donations.
How can you avoid these scams during the holiday season?
There are several things you can do to avoid these scams during the holiday season:
Be skeptical of any online offers that seem too good to be true. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is and there is not a lack of good offers throughout the holiday season. keep your eyes peeled for the best ones that are also safe.
Do your research before buying anything online. Make sure you're buying from a reputable website. Check for seals or certificates of authenticity, and check reviews before making a purchase.
Never give out your personal information or credit card information unsolicited. This is the easiest way for hackers to steal your identity or gain access to your bank account.
Check the security features of any website before entering your credit card information. Look for an https:// prefix in the web address and a closed padlock symbol in the browser window.
Use a credit card instead of a debit card when making online purchases, since credit cards offer more protection against fraud than debit cards do.
Keep your computer software up-to-date and install anti-virus software to help protect yourself from scam artists' malware attacks.
Use strong passwords to protect your accounts. Develop different passwords or passphrases for each site you are using and make them difficult to break. if you are using a password manager, make sure that can't be broken into either.
How can people report scam attempts while shopping online?
Reporting scam attempts while shopping online can sometimes be difficult, since people may not know who to contact or where to go for help. However, there are a few options that people can explore in order to get the scammer's information and report them.
One option is to reach out to the scammer's email provider or web hosting company. Many scam emails will come from free email providers like Gmail or Yahoo, so reporting the scammer to these companies can help shut down their accounts. Additionally, many scam websites are hosted on free web hosting services like WordPress or Blogger, so reporting these websites to their hosting company can also shut them down.
Another option is to contact law enforcement. If the scam involves a financial transaction or personal information, then reporting it to the police may be a good option. However, not all scams fall into this category, so people should reach out to the police if they are not sure whether or not they should report the scam.
Finally, people can also contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB is a government-funded organization that helps resolve consumer complaints. They may be able to help people resolve their dispute with the scammer or provide them with more resources on how to report the scam.
The holiday season is a time when online shoppers are especially vulnerable to scam artists looking to take advantage of them. In this article, we’ve outlined some steps you can take to protect yourself, your finances, and your identity while shopping online.
Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t let yourself be scammed this holiday season by following these simple tips! Have a safe holiday season from all of us at Ozark Technology!
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