Holiday Cybersecurity Essentials
Holiday celebrations are in full swing, and cybercriminals are taking advantage of all the distractions available this time of year. Cybercriminals use tricks and lies to steal your money or personal information, whether online, by mail, phone, text, social media, in person, or through emerging technologies. Stay alert this season to protect yourself and your family!
Here are some holiday scams to watch out for.
- Phishing Cybercriminals will send you emails advertising fake products at bargain prices to lure you into clicking on a link to a phishing website.
- Fake Social Media Promotions. Social media is a popular place for people to shop. Online scammers set up fake accounts and promote low-priced items to lure shoppers. Payment details enable them to make purchases elsewhere in your account.
- Fake Shipping Notification Scams. In an email or SMS message, the scammer will pretend to be a shipping provider such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, or DHL. It will prompt you to click on a link to a phishing website. This infects your computer with malware or steals your personal information.
- Package Theft Scams. The holiday shopping season is when packages are frequently received at homes and offices. A scammer poses as a delivery service and informs you that the package you ordered failed. They will ask for your personal information or require you to click a link to reschedule. If you receive such an email, don't click on the link provided and verify the contents with the courier company.
- Charity/Disaster Relief Scams. Over the holidays, scammers will take advantage of your kindness by creating fake ways to donate to those in need. By asking you to donate to causes on social media, they are stealing your personal information and funds.
- Gift Card Scams. You may receive a notification or be pressured to buy a gift card(s). Scammers use this tactic to steal money by getting you to hand over the gift card number and pin. You will never be asked to pay with gift cards by the government or a reputable company.
- E-Card Sending electronic greeting cards is a common practice. Be wary of these, however, as attackers have begun using them. They may send fake e-cards with links to phish or malware. Verify the sender of any electronic greeting cards you receive this season and avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments.
- Wi-Fi Network Spoof. During the holidays, public places can get crowded with scammers setting up rogue Wi-Fi networks. The scammer may be able to intercept sensitive information once a user connects to them. During the holidays, avoid using public Wi-Fi, especially when conducting online transactions.
Take a moment to stop, look, and think before taking action.
- Never click on links or attachments in emails from unknown senders.
- Watch out for phishing (email), smishing (SMS/text message) and vishing (phone or robocall) attempts.
- Shop only at trusted retailers.
- Protect your accounts with strong passwords.
- Make use of multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Monitor your bank statements regularly.
- Make online purchases with your credit card.
Make security awareness a part of your holidays this year. Learn where to report a scam | USAGov
If you are 60 or older and live in the State of Kansas, please consider participating in an online survey: https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8ivlFYvdzun35Do focusing on financial exploitation and fraud/scam prevention. A research team funded by the National Science Foundation is involved in this project.
Joy Miller, Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent 2024