Scammers thrive during this time of year. Here are some simple, shareable suggestions to avoid getting swindled.
Gift shopping should be a fun and festive experience, but thanks to online scammers, a lot of people are getting the gift of a costly, stressful holiday, instead. According to recent research from security company McAfee, one in five Americans reports having been scammed during a past holiday season, resulting in approximately $840 per person lost. Those aren’t statistics you want to be a part of, so here’s easy-to-follow advice for avoiding each type of scam, followed by a quick look at schemes that are popular during the holidays.
Earlier this month, I spoke with Megan Squire, a threat intelligence researcher at F-Secure, for new tips on keeping your accounts and information secure online while shopping during the holidays. 1. Shop Offline
My first and best suggestion for avoiding online scams is to go where the scammers aren’t. Try in-person shopping again. Remember the lines and occasional violence that once accompanied Black Friday in-store sales? That chaos and danger are now largely contained to your computer and phone, where scammers are fighting for your attention and your wallet. In a recent survey conducted by the Harris Poll and Quad, more than 70% of shoppers said they trust in-store purchases more than online shopping. 2. Set Aside Dedicated Online Shopping Time
Many security experts say that the best way to combat online scams is to slow down and avoid distractions. This advice isn’t incredibly easy to follow during the holiday season when distractions are happening IRL and online, 24/7.
“Around the holidays, try turning notifications off,” Squire suggests. She recommends setting aside a few hours, preferably late at night when your home is quiet or when you know you have time to focus, to do your online shopping. You can break up this focused shopping time over days or weeks if you have a lot of shopping to do.3. View the Deepest Discounts With Skepticism
You can use software as a second set of eyes to help you separate the discounts from the duds as well. F-Secure offers a shopping tracker browser extension that checks URLs to make sure they’re safe. McAfee’s Scam Detector blocks phishing links and will scan emails for possible scams-in-progress.
These products require a significant amount of trust on your end, as you need to allow them to access your emails and browsing activity. If you’re not interested in taking that route, changing your online behavior is the most effective way to prevent scams.
Instead of trusting every ad nestled in an article’s margins, approach online deals with a healthy dose of skepticism. If a price seems too good to be true, assume it is. It’s unwise to believe that a seller doesn’t recognize the deal you’re getting, or that you’re being offered something for free as a kindness. 4. Use Your Credit Card, Not a Debit Card
Finally, I recommend using a virtual credit card while shopping online. That way, if the card number is stolen, or you’ve clicked on a fake listing or website, you have a pretty good chance of getting your money back. Credit cards offer protections that you won’t find when using debit cards (which are essentially cash) or cryptocurrency.The Newest Shopping Scams This Shopping Season
“We track 138 different psychological tactics and combinations used in scams. Urgency is in almost every scam,” Squire says.
She notes that scammers often present time-sensitive offers to potential targets, making them feel compelled to take action immediately. That said, Squire also cautions against hard and fast rules for avoiding scams, as scammers can also read articles like this one and then adjust their tactics accordingly.
“I saw a scam the other day that actually anticipated my anticipation of urgency and was like, ‘Hey, take your time. No rush,’” Squire says.
