The holiday season is one of the busiest periods for online shopping and unfortunately, a peak time for cybercriminals too. With increased transactions, festive discounts, and a rush to buy gifts, scammers take advantage of distracted shoppers and high online activity. To strengthen your holiday online scam protection, it’s important to understand the tricks scammers use and how to stay safe
Here are practical tips to help you stay safe, protect your financial information, and shop securely this holiday season.
1. Holiday Online Scam Protection: Beware of Phishing Scams
Cybercriminals often send emails, SMS messages, or social media ads posing as trusted brands offering “limited-time deals.”
How to protect yourself:
- Double-check sender addresses before clicking links.
- Hover over links to verify the website URL.
- Avoid downloading unexpected attachments.
- When in doubt, go directly to the merchant’s official website instead of clicking links.
2. Holiday Online Scam Protection for Safe Online Shopping
Fraudulent websites often appear during the festive period with fake discounts or counterfeit products.
Stay safe by:
- Looking for “https://” and a padlock icon in the address bar.
- Buying only from verified merchants or platforms you recognise.
- Avoiding websites with poor design, spelling mistakes, or unusually low prices.
3. Protect Your Financial Information During Holiday Shopping
Your payment details are a top target during the holiday shopping rush.
Best practices:
- Use secure payment methods: avoid direct bank transfers to unfamiliar sellers.
- Enable transaction alerts to monitor purchases in real time.
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts and payment apps.
4. Safe Browsing Practices on Public Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi at malls, cafés, or airports can expose your transactions to attackers.
Protect yourself by:
- Avoiding financial transactions on public Wi-Fi.
- Using a VPN if you must connect.
- Switching to mobile data for sensitive actions.
5. Watch Out for Delivery and Package Scams
Scammers send fake delivery notifications or request additional fees for “failed” deliveries.
Tips:
- Track orders directly from the courier’s official website.
- Ignore unexpected requests for payment or personal information.
- Be cautious of links claiming to “reschedule” or “confirm” a delivery you didn’t initiate.
6. Improve Your Account Monitoring for Better Scam Protection
During the busy shopping season, it’s easy to miss unusual activity.
To stay protected:
- Review your bank and app transaction history frequently.
- Immediately report unfamiliar charges to your provider.
- Set spending limits or notifications for your accounts.
Final Thoughts
The holiday season should be enjoyable, and staying secure online ensures it stays that way. By following these simple steps, you can protect your personal and financial information while you shop, gift, and celebrate safely.
Fincra remains committed to supporting secure online transactions and helping you stay informed about evolving cyber threats. Stay vigilant, and happy holidays.
