Holidays are fast approaching and so are the scammers. In this festive time of the year, they explore into current trends and pinpoint what captures your attention, ensuring their schemes appear authentic. Reflecting on past wins, they refine tactics—whether through counterfeit Santa letters or irresistible Black Friday deals—staying one step ahead. Adapting to updated security measures, scammers exploit vulnerabilities during the chaotic shopping season.
Beyond technicalities, they weave emotional hooks like heartwarming charity tales, once-in-a-lifetime deals, or enticing activities, aiming to lower your guard and coax personal information. In this calculated dance, scammers orchestrate deception with methodical precision.
The good news is you can save yourself from these scams if you know the red flags. Some of these include unrealistic discount deals, pressure tactics, unsolicited communications, suspicious URLs, grammatical errors, or demands for payment through unconventional methods.
7 Red Flags To Watch Out For During Holidays
Unrealistic holiday discounts scamming:
As the holidays approach, a classic red flag emerges with scammers presenting deals that seem too good to be true. Exploiting the heightened online shopping excitement, scammers showcase increased creativity, capitalizing on the interconnected nature of social media platforms as a fertile ground for their deceptive schemes. Their tactics include:
1. Fake Promotions and Contests: Scammers craft enticing ads, luring users with promises of unbelievable discounts or exclusive giveaways. Discerning the real from the fake becomes challenging, often leading participants to unknowingly share personal information.
2. Festive Phishing Links: Leveraging holiday shopping excitement, scammers circulate phishing links masked as exclusive deals, directing users to fake websites. Here, personal information, including credit card details, is at risk.
3. Social Media Gift Exchanges: According to CyberGhost’s piece, an annual scam resurfaces as “Secret Sister” or “Secret Santa” gift exchanges. It involves a pyramid scheme that deceives participants into sharing personal details about family and friends.
4. Brand Impersonation: Scammers mimic reputable brands on social media, enticing shoppers with attractive holiday offers. Unfortunately, purchased items never arrive, leaving victims empty-handed as scammers vanish with the money.
Sales tactics that pressure immediate purchases:
Offers that seem too good to be true contribute significantly to the success of various holiday scams. Others rely on exerting pressure, urging victims to seize the fake opportunity swiftly, under the guise of deals ending soon or fictional limited stock depletion. Exercise caution when you confront aggressive sales tactics forcing immediate payment, preventing thorough consideration or due diligence on the seller or product.
Unexpected requests for personal information:
Scammers frequently begin communication via unexpected emails, calls, or texts. They might impersonate representatives from reputable entities, aiming to deceive you into divulging private details. Be vigilant with uninviting contacts, particularly those seeking personal or financial information.
Pay in atypical or specific ways:
Occasionally, a scammer will dispatch a counterfeit check, directing you to deposit it and transfer funds. Payment demands typically involve cryptocurrency, wire transfers, payment apps, or loading money onto gift cards. Never do that and remain alert and informed.
Typos or peculiar spellings in website URLs:
Scammers frequently generate imitation websites resembling authentic ones. Check for indicators of inadequate website security, like the absence of HTTPS encryption, a dubious website URL, or grammatical inconsistencies in the content. Only input personal details on websites that are unquestionably legitimate and trustworthy.
No such thing as easy money:
Most individuals in the United States put in significant effort to earn their income. Deceptive holiday-themed online scams assure financial gains through a mere email, click, or minor investment. Essentially, gain money effortlessly. No assurances exist for substantial returns on investments or exchanging minimal information for significant payouts. Real life doesn’t run this way, except for rare instances like winning the lottery or participating in a game show.
OTP phone calls:
Protecting your financial accounts is crucial year-round. Implementing two-step verification adds an extra security layer, requiring a two-step login process: entering a username/password and a One one-time passcode (OTP). This OTP, sent via email or text, thwarts unauthorized access. Beware of Voice Phishing (Vishing) scams where fraudsters pose as financial institution employees, manipulating caller IDs. With the obtained OTP, they infiltrate your account, enabling fund transfers and password changes.
Protect your holidays cheer from scammers. Stay vigilant and informed to lower the risk of falling prey to the newest holiday scams.