How shopping scammers can fool you before the holidays
'05.12.2017'
Source: Freep
The Christmas and New Year holidays are ahead, and we are all busy looking for gifts. Of course, everyone wants to buy the most profitable, looking for the best price - and it is precisely this completely normal desire of the buyer that scammers actively use. Freep. How not to succumb to tricks?
1. Stop chasing two or more hares
The abundance of offers, notifications, messages, which contain discount coupons and other, at first glance, lucrative ideas, can unsettle you and make you vulnerable to online fraud. People are distracted, in a hurry and make ill-considered transactions, not noticing that the site from which the purchase is made, for example, has a strange name. Scammers fake links by imitating Amazon, Walmart and Target, PayPal, Yahoo and Apple.
2. Learn how to identify a fake
Beware of the domain, around the name of which there are unnecessary words and symbols, for example, Amazonsecure-shop, Target-officialsite or Walmartkt, Фmazonshop.gq, Targethome.today or Walmart-outlet.ga. Scammers use words such as “official website” to make their fake websites look legitimate. There may be additional letters, such as Yahooo or Walmaart. Do not click on abbreviated links in social networks of unknown origin.
4. Never rush
Consumers who click on links or visit malicious sites usually unknowingly give them their name, address, and credit card information. Never click on links in emails or social networks. Spend a couple of seconds and go to the site yourself.
5. Ask yourself: Why does Amazon give you something for free?
Amazon warns consumers that phishing emails will direct you to a “fake website that looks like a website Amazonwhere you may be asked to provide your account information, email address and password combinations. ” Amazon Does not send emails that ask for your social security number, bank account information, PIN, or your password. You can send suspicious emails to [email protected].
6. Do not be fake alerts
Walmart warns that if you received an order confirmation email from Walmart, but never placed such an order, it may be a phishing fraud. FedEx warns consumers of fraudulent emails that claim to belong FedEx or the US Postal Service "regarding a package that cannot be delivered." Then the consumer is invited to open the attachment in order to receive the invoice required to collect his package. Attachment in the email may contain a virus.
7. Not all offers are worth deals.
Fraudsters seduce consumers with great deals on rare and valuable items. You might find an unusual deal on Apple iPhone X, or - as it was on Black Friday at 2017, 70% discount on Pandora charms. Try calling and talking to someone in customer service before placing an order to ask about return policies and the like. If they are fraudsters, the likelihood that they will answer you (and even more, they will give you detailed advice) is very low.
