The gift giving season is officially upon us and it’s time to spread some holiday cheer! The holidays bring joy, time off from work, days spent with family, but with that being said this season is also accompanied by added stressors. Whether you’re stretching your finances to afford presents, struggling with travel plans or rushing to get everything done before taking a few days off, the extra expenses and pressure could make you a prime target for scams or possible identity theft.
According to the Better Business Bureau’s 2021 Online Purchase Scams Report, it found that online purchase scams were the riskiest type of scam this year. Victims of this type of scam lose money when products they buy are never sent, or they receive fake or low-quality items without the possibility of a refund from the retailer. A 2020 Experian Survey also found that nearly a quarter of respondents (24%) were the victim of identity theft or fraud during the holidays.
While this is concerning and can be dangerous, there are things that you can do to protect yourself from falling victim to a scam or having your personal information compromised.
Here are some tips to safe during the holidays:
- Use trusted vendors and apps: remember to triple check and make sure you’re purchasing from established vendors to limit the risk of scams. Watch for any malicious links or redirects to fake sites. Downloading any apps from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store can avoid any installations that are driven from website links.
- Don’t use free, public WI-FI connections: why? Your payment card information could be intercepted. Instead, use your mobile service provider’s internet connection for enhanced security.
- Avoid the urge to rush: take your time to examine all of the links and check for signs of secure sits (e.g., the lock symbol and https://). Also, avoid any sites that end in suspicious domains such as .cc or .ru.
- Be aware of phishing attempts: watch out for fake shipping notices or any too-good-to-be-true offers and phony fraud warnings that could infect your computer or trick you into disclosing payment information. Do not click on any link that seems suspicious or unexpected attachments from emails or text messages.
- Create unique passwords: a unique password for every website is a must. Having a unique password for each website you frequent will lessen the risk of the fraudster having information to log in to other websites, such as online banking, credit cards, etc.
- Be aware of your surroundings: if using an ATM, be aware of your surroundings and check for tampering. Criminals can place devices on card readers that copy account details.
- Monitor your bank accounts: notify your bank immediately if you see anything suspicious!
The holidays are stressful enough, so let Southern Alarm and Security help protect you and keep your holiday season safe!
Happy Holidays!