Amidst the festive gatherings, seasonal festivities, digital transactions, and travels, scammers and deceitful individuals find ample opportunities to exploit innocent individuals.
During Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas, the frequency of online scams escalates. Surprisingly, the period from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday witnessed an extraordinary 82% surge in global fraud attempts compared to other times of the year. While in pursuit of attractive deals, falling prey to cyber scams is a distinct possibility.
Exercise caution and maintain vigilance during this festive period. Cybercriminals not only aim to steal your financial details but also seek to gain unauthorized access to your personal information, putting it at risk of falling into the wrong hands.
Outlined below are five deceptive practices to be mindful of during the holiday season.
Top 5 Holiday Scams of This Year
Secret Sister Gift Exchange:
According to CyberGhost, the Secret Sister scam is a prevalent pyramid scheme on social media, cleverly masquerading as a legitimate gift exchange. Participants are enticed with promises of receiving multiple gifts by sending just one valued at $10. The process involves adding names to a list, purchasing a gift, and anticipating a cascade of presents.
However, the mathematical impossibility becomes evident – not everyone can receive the promised 36 gifts. As the participant pool expands, later joiners are likely to receive nothing.
What’s worse, monetary loss aside, participants must share personal details openly, creating vulnerability to cyber criminals for potential identity theft and other scams. The allure of the Secret Sister gift exchange conceals a web of disappointment, financial risk, and compromised personal information.
Phishing Emails and Texts:
Phishing scams are rampant during the holidays, spanning shopping, gatherings, and travel. Be cautious, as seemingly innocent calls or texts may be part of a phishing scheme. Recognizing the tactics is crucial for protection:
- Social engineering: Scammers exploit emotions to extract personal or financial details.
- Hyperlink manipulation: Fake sites use deceptive links or redirects to execute phishing attacks.
- Link shortening: Scammers hide malicious URLs with link-shortening services.
- Typosquatting: Fraudsters create fake sites mimicking trusted brands to deceive and collect information.
- Chatbots and AI voice generators: Cybercriminals employ these on fake sites or calls to manipulate individuals into revealing private data. Stay vigilant to safeguard against these tactics.
Sham Charity
Be cautious of deceptive solicitations, whether through fabricated charities or emails, urging for contributions purportedly on behalf of a charitable cause. Scammers exploit the generosity associated with the festive season. Pay attention to linguistic anomalies or any suspicious elements in the communication, though this isn’t foolproof.
Exercise vigilance on social media platforms, where donation requests might surface; even friends could unwittingly share posts endorsing dubious charities. Prior to contributing funds, it’s prudent to verify the legitimacy of the charity by placing a direct call.
Fake Gift Cards
Scammers frequently generate deceptive offers on social platforms asserting, “You’ve secured a prize voucher!” or that “the initial 100 participants to register will win!” After claiming the reward, you’ll be prompted for personal details and subsequently traded to other digital offenders for identity theft. Exercise caution in selecting links to steer clear of falling into a voucher entrapment. Refrain from clicking online pop-ups.
Deceitful seasonal job offers
Job scams intensify during the holidays as scammers exploit those seeking seasonal employment. Fake job postings promise substantial earnings with minimal effort, enticing individuals into a trap. Scammers typically pilfer personal data during the sham “hiring process” or deceive victims into sending money for fabricated “supplies and training.”
Watch for red flags: immediate hiring, hasty WhatsApp or Telegram interviews, and requests for sensitive information like Social Security or bank details. Beware of check-cashing schemes. Prioritize researching companies on platforms like Glassdoor before divulging personal information. Verify the legitimacy of both the individual and the job offer before sharing sensitive details.
We wish you a fantastic holiday season! Steer clear of potential scams, stay vigilant, and have a joyful festive season!
