The holiday season is upon us, ushering in family gatherings, festive decor and an excuse to break out the eggnog. There’s a reason we call it the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also one of the most active seasons for online crooks. The convenience of online stores can relieve a lot of the stress associated with holiday shopping, but in the rush to get the right present for everyone on your “nice” list, it’s easy to fall for scams. Read on for the scams to look out for this season, along with expert advice and tips on how to avoid them while shopping online.
FAKE ONLINE STORES
Today, sophisticated white-collar criminals create a complete replica of a website of a legitimate retailer and use the exact same logo, colors, font and even the same website layout to mimic a website of a well-known brand. Verify the legitimacy of an online seller before providing any payment information by checking the URL of the seller’s website for spelling mistakes. Another tip is to make sure the website is using encryption. HTTPS before the URL and/or a little padlock icon indicates the website is encrypting your payment information.
FAKE SHIPPING AND DELIVERY ALERTS
Beware of text message alerts claiming that a delivery is being held or delayed. The scammer may then request payment to complete delivery or direct you to a fake website, which will prompt you to enter sensitive data. The important thing is to be vigilant and not get caught off guard by a scammer because you’re anxious about your gifts being delivered on time. Never click on links in text messages or emails, even if you suspect they might be genuine. Instead, always go directly to the merchant’s or courier’s website and check the shipment’s tracking information there. Look at the sender’s email address or phone number. Strange-looking numbers, such as those with an odd area code or foreign country code, are always red flags.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE MARKETPLACE SCAMS
Online marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace, are especially fertile ground for scams. Criminals may post popular items, such as electronics or sold-out toys, at very attractive prices, then ask for payment online. They could do this to steal your money, your payment information or both. Marketplaces where private businesses operate are also a hazard. Etsy, for example, is a great place to find unique handmade items, and it’s a popular place to shop for gifts. Unfortunately, that makes it another target for scammers, who create fake shops to lure in time-pressed holiday shoppers. The cardinal rule of social media marketplaces is to never give your payment information to someone you don’t know. If you’re buying something from a place like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, complete the transaction in person in a safe, public place. Always look at the seller’s profile to check the feedback and see how long they’ve been operating on the site.
GIFT CARD SCAMS
Gift cards, while undeniably convenient, are a rich vein for cybercrime. Scammers may advertise discounted gift cards for suspiciously low prices, often on social media or even their own fake storefront. Naturally, they are happy to take your payment (and your payment information) and then never deliver. Only buy gift cards from reputable online vendors, using the same due diligence to avoid fake websites as outlined earlier. Be especially wary of heavily discounted gift cards and offers that seem a little too generous.
FAKE JOB LISTING SCAMS
People can always use more money around holidays to help with gifts. Scammers are well aware of this and create fake listings for part-time seasonal jobs. These are often phishing operations that urge applicants to hand over sensitive information, such as their Social Security number, during the application process. Always do your research about any company offering seasonal work before you apply. Make sure the listing is posted by a legitimate company on a real job website and steer clear of suspicious ads on social media. Be wary of any job listing that offers unusually high pay and those that don’t require a face-to-face interview. Finally, never pay an application fee when apply for a job. Legitimate companies don’t require this.
