How to Protect Yourself From Holiday Scams
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Sign up for biweekly updates on the latest scams. A few scams are specific to the holidays, but most are variations on everyday fraud, ramped up to match seasonal spikes in spending and web traffic. Not surprisingly, they often center on shopping, especially . As real retailers roll out their seasonal deals, scammers seek to snare bargain-hunting shoppers with bogus websites and social media campaigns that impersonate major brands. These “spoofing” sites and fake posts entice you to spend money for products you’ll never receive. Further, many are vehicles for harvesting credit card numbers and other personal data that criminals use to commit or sell on the . Scammers may distribute malware-loaded links or attachments via supposed coupon offers or “order confirmation” emails. Fraud involving drained — hugely popular for both giving and receiving — also shift into high gear. : One-third of all charitable giving is done in December, reports fundraising software company Network for Good. That means more sham charities exploiting Americans’ goodwill via fake websites and pushy telemarketers. This is the most common holiday con, an AARP poll found, with 38 percent of respondents saying they’ve received a dubious donation request.
: As holiday packages crisscross the country, scammers send out and texts disguised as UPS, FedEx or U.S. Postal Service notifications about incoming or missed deliveries. Links lead to phony sign-in pages asking for personal information, or to sites infested with malware. A third of those surveyed by AARP said they’ve experienced a delivery scam.
: Some criminals send scam emails and texts offering promotions such as free flights to get you to share credit card information or click on links that download malware. Also be wary of the many spoofed websites pretending to be legitimate hotels, airlines and other travel-related businesses. Shopping & Groceries 20% off a Freshly meal delivery subscription See more Shopping & Groceries offers >
Holiday Scams
The festive season means fun with friends and family, goodwill and giving. Sadly, ’tis also a prime time for cybercrooks to cook up nefarious schemes. Watchdog AlertsSign up for biweekly updates on the latest scams. A few scams are specific to the holidays, but most are variations on everyday fraud, ramped up to match seasonal spikes in spending and web traffic. Not surprisingly, they often center on shopping, especially . As real retailers roll out their seasonal deals, scammers seek to snare bargain-hunting shoppers with bogus websites and social media campaigns that impersonate major brands. These “spoofing” sites and fake posts entice you to spend money for products you’ll never receive. Further, many are vehicles for harvesting credit card numbers and other personal data that criminals use to commit or sell on the . Scammers may distribute malware-loaded links or attachments via supposed coupon offers or “order confirmation” emails. Fraud involving drained — hugely popular for both giving and receiving — also shift into high gear. : One-third of all charitable giving is done in December, reports fundraising software company Network for Good. That means more sham charities exploiting Americans’ goodwill via fake websites and pushy telemarketers. This is the most common holiday con, an AARP poll found, with 38 percent of respondents saying they’ve received a dubious donation request.
: As holiday packages crisscross the country, scammers send out and texts disguised as UPS, FedEx or U.S. Postal Service notifications about incoming or missed deliveries. Links lead to phony sign-in pages asking for personal information, or to sites infested with malware. A third of those surveyed by AARP said they’ve experienced a delivery scam.
: Some criminals send scam emails and texts offering promotions such as free flights to get you to share credit card information or click on links that download malware. Also be wary of the many spoofed websites pretending to be legitimate hotels, airlines and other travel-related businesses. Shopping & Groceries 20% off a Freshly meal delivery subscription See more Shopping & Groceries offers >