Avoid getting scammed this holiday season

Spending money during Christmas is the order of the day and with it the possibility of falling into fraud to show your data or get your money. Those responsible for these illegal actions are persistent and take advantage of this time to speed up their car. To help you stay alert and avoid falling into the trap this Christmas, here are some signs and symptoms to watch out for.

Common Scams

Charity

Whether physical or physical, attackers commit crimes related to these entities. Whether it’s an organization claiming to be on the cutting edge or a well-known name, listen to anyone who contacts you about this issue. Make sure the information provided is correct and that the correct procedure is followed.

Re-enrollment

As we approach the close of the year, subscription renewal scams become very timely and more difficult to detect. Thus, the most common version of a holiday season scam is an email spoofing the original company.

Pharming

This type of cyber fraud consists of redirecting the user to a fake website by means of pop-up windows. Thus, the intention is to steal personal and banking information. Since, as part of the scam, there are legends indicating a supposed error to be redirected, it is necessary not to access links to suspicious pages or respond to messages of possible prizes.

Seasonal Labor Scams

Retailers hire thousands of seasonal workers for the holidays. Before you agree to work for someone, you should be aware of employment scams designed to collect your personal information, including Social Security numbers and bank account information.

Tip: Look for the company name, address, phone number and website, call Human Resources to make sure the company is hiring also ask about the correct way to use it. You should be suspicious if you are asked to pay any upfront fees.

Charging Stations

Charging stations in public places like airports and hospitals can be attractive and charge your phone quickly. However, cybercriminals have been known to compromise these ports to steal private information from your device or install malware on your connected device (known as “juice hacking”).

Gift card scams

In one scam, the value of gift cards selected from self-service displays can be compromised by thieves before you even buy the card, leaving the value of your card at $0. In the case of gift cards received that you will never use, there are legitimate markets that have buyers willing to take them off your hands for a reduced price. In the second type of scam, the scammers are looking to get rid of that card by tricking you and stealing the value of the card to make a purchase before you realize you’ve become a victim.

Tip: Buy gift cards that are stocked behind counters or directly from the retailer, and save your receipt so you can prove the value of the card and the date of purchase. Use known gift card marketplaces that have customer service contacts and are monitored by the Better Business Bureau. Avoid social media posts that offer to pay 100% of the value of your card that you don’t want.

Others

• Pop-up ads Beware of pop-up or banner ads that promise amazing rewards, special coupons or other discounts before doing business online, the pop-up may not be related to the Internet provider you are visiting.
• Websites Don’t trust a website or online vendor you don’t know. Research it before you shop, even if the website offers that hard-to-find gift at an incredible price.
• Fraudulent Purchases This scam involves fraudsters making online purchases with stolen credit cards. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus, requirements that required the customer to present identification or their credit card when picking up their purchase in-store or curbside have been relaxed to prevent the spread of the virus.
• Card reader skimmers Thieves can place small electronic devices called skimmers where you enter or swipe your credit or debit card. This tool is used to steal card-related information, such as your account number and personal data.