Cybercriminals are especially active during the festive season, so be cautious of fake alerts via email, text, or social media. Common scams might include messages about discounted electrical items or notifications from delivery companies claiming your parcel couldn’t be delivered. These messages often contain links asking for personal details. Stay vigilant and don’t click or respond.
When shopping online for those all-important gifts, it’s natural to start with trusted retailers. However, if the items you want aren’t available, you might explore unfamiliar shops or follow links from social media. This creates opportunities for fraudsters to advertise “must-have” items on cloned websites. Always verify the sites you visit to avoid falling victim to scams.
Remember, the internet is rife with counterfeit goods. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Check for the ‘s’ in ‘https’ at the beginning of a website’s address, which indicates a secure connection. If it’s missing, steer clear and don’t shop there!
Stay alert this season: protect yourself from holiday scammers
- Fraudulent Websites Shopping online for holiday deals? Scammers create convincing fake websites to steal your personal and financial information. Always look for ‘https’ and a padlock icon in the address bar to ensure the site is secure.
- Online Marketplace Fraud Be cautious when shopping on platforms like Etsy, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace. Scammers often advertise deals on high-value items such as gadgets or discounted getaways. Verify the seller’s credentials before proceeding.
- Fraudulent Charity Appeals Watch out for fake charity appeals claiming to represent reputable organisations. Genuine charity workers carry proper identification—don’t hesitate to ask for verification. Trust your instincts and donate directly to verified charities.
- False Refund Notifications Look out for messages from HMRC, local councils, or major retailers offering unexpected refunds or rebates. These often contain links asking for sensitive banking details. Never share your information.
- Bank Impersonation Calls Be wary of calls from scammers pretending to be from your bank’s fraud department, claiming there are issues with your account. End the call immediately and contact your bank using the official number on your card.
- Telephone Fraud Scammers may call pretending to offer survey opt-outs or similar services, asking you to press numbers on your keypad. This could trigger expensive premium rate charges. Hang up straight away.
- Tech Support Fraud Ignore calls or emails claiming your computer has urgent issues requiring immediate action. These often lead to harmful websites. Remember, companies like Microsoft will never contact you directly without prior interaction.
- Dating Scams If you’re using dating platforms to find holiday companionship, be cautious. Scammers often build trust over time before asking for money transfers. Never send money or share sensitive personal details.
- Retail Scams Tempted by luxury brands at surprisingly low prices? Be cautious of counterfeits, ranging from poor-quality clothing to unsafe electrical products. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
