10 online holiday scams and how to avoid them

Christmas is around the corner, and there’s a familiar festive cheer in the air. But if you’re finally letting your guard down, let this post be a friendly reminder that festive-related scams often skyrocket during the final few days of the year.

Of course, while there’s no reason why you should stop yourself from celebrating, keeping an eye out for these common scams can help you stay vigilant. Apart from this, keeping suspicious communication at bay could also safeguard your devices from a malicious attack. Here are some of them to look out for.

10 online scams and how to avoid them

Careful user or not, scams can fool just about anyone who spends time online. But here are 10 such threats listed by Check Point Software Technologies along with ways to avoid them.

1. Deceptive advertisements

2. Fake delivery notifications

3. Phony charities or surveys

4. Fraudulent air tickets or travel information

5. Phishing emails that mimic popular brands

6. Job scams for extra income

7. Family in distress scam

8. Hacked public Wi-Fi

9. IoT and Mobile entertainment risks

10. Business email compromise (BEC) scams

1. Deceptive advertisements

Christmas and year-end are all about gifting. At a time like this, social media advertising is the simplest way to infiltrate into a device and extract your credit or debit card information. It is best to look out for customer reviews and ratings before trusting an online store or business. Always opt for the cash-on-delivery option, wherever applicable. However, if you find a purchase suspicious, it is best to keep a close eye on your bank statements to report any unauthorised transactions.

2. Fake delivery notifications

In a time where we have our dear ones sending packages (especially without any intimation), it isn’t surprising to find links on your smartphone claiming to help you track the delivery status. In such cases, it is advisable to visit the official website of the delivery service and check using the provided tracking number. This practice can easily help you determine if the sender is authentic.

3. Phony charities or surveys

Christmas or festive time also paves the way for surveys and donation-related communication. Before you go ahead and click on any links, ensure that the sender is a trusted name and confirm the authenticity of the cause before making any transactions.

4. Fraudulent air tickets or travel information

In a time when travel is exorbitant, a deal that gives you a too-good-to-be-true discounted rate can seem tempting. The best way to steer clear of such a scam is to ensure that the link has a secure connection (HTTPS) first. Secondly, make sure you go through the terms and conditions of the deal to check for any hidden charges within the deal.

5. Phishing emails that mimic popular brands

If you’ve ever come across a suspicious email from an e-commerce portal that you frequently shop at, there’s a good chance you’re looking at a phishing email. A lot of these emails also have fake gift card links that lead you to enter your card details.

ALSO READ: Types of communication you should never click on

However, a closer look at their address or style of communication can reveal that they’re, in fact, social engineering data mining tactics. It is best to verify if the brand communication is authentic by visiting their official website or social media account and looking out for any warnings issued by your mailbox.

6. Job scams for extra income

While this may seem like a lull period for employment-related scams, several scammers tend to float emails that claim to help you make an extra buck on the side. They often talk about how you can make a substantial amount of money and take you through a paid “hiring” process. Conducting a background check on the point of contact and the company could help you avoid falling prey to this kind of scam.

7. Family in distress scam

Scammers usually target the elderly, making them all the more susceptible to fake online calls and messages this time of the year. A ‘family in distress’ call usually begins with someone impersonating a family member and claiming to be troubled. They later move on to asking for an urgent cash transfer to help them out.

It is best to keep your close ones informed by telling them to avoid unknown/unlisted callers. Another way to avoid this is to stay calm and cross-check any information from the caller.

8. Hacked public Wi-Fi

We are quick to connect to public Wi-Fi networks when we’re working out of restaurants, cafes or airports. However, they can be hacked easily, and scammers usually leverage this method, known as man-in-the-middle (MiTM), to intercept data. It is best to avoid sketchy networks and only opt for trusted names. If you’re worried that your home network is prone to threats, consider getting yourself a strong VPN to encrypt your internet connection and protect your data from interception.

9. IoT and Mobile entertainment risks

In the case of a long layover, there’s often a need to download games to pass the time quickly. However, in times like these, you tend not to check the certification and the genuineness of the game, which could further cause your device’s security to be compromised. Alternatively, if you’ve received a suspicious, unnamed gift, it could also be a smart toy sent to track your activity or eavesdrop within your home.

In case you’re downloading a new app, consider performing a quick background check on the developer and reading the recent-most reviews. Similarly, don’t forget to cross-check the sender and their address if you receive an unknown package this festive season.

10. Business email compromise (BEC) scams

Today, the internet has provided easy access for fraudsters to impersonate an employer or organisation. This has resulted in huge losses to a company that falls prey to phoney billing requests or holiday party event schemes. The best way to avoid this is by ensuring the email address of the sender comes from a legitimate source. Look out for any abnormalities in the communication channel, and don’t forget to keep your security systems up to date.

While these may seem intimidating, the best way to ensure online safety is by paying attention to details while browsing and communicating with strangers. We’re sure these details could help you stay alert without dampening the fun this festive season.