The holiday season is a busy time for many people as they prepare for celebrations and shop for gifts. But it's also a busy time for scammers as they devise ways to cheat and steal, sometimes through phishing campaigns that try to trick people into divulging personal information. Here are four phishing scams to watch out for during this time of the year.
Fraudulent shipping notifications
As most people shop online due to the coronavirus pandemic, cybercriminals are more intent on launching phishing emails that impersonate shipping notifications. To avoid this scam, don't open attachments from suspicious email addresses and do not click on links for external pages.
Charity frauds
This type of scam typically tries to trick the recipient into believing that they're donating money to a charity. To avoid this scam, check the charity.
Gift card/Coupon scam
Gift cards and coupons are an easy way to get money, one reason this type of fraud is popular among cybercriminals. To avoid this scam, be wary of any coupons that offer great deals and discounts on popular items.
Travel phishing scams
With most people stuck at home in lockdown mode, a vacation to an exotic location sounds enticing. So you book your trip. But then you receive a notice informing you that due to the pandemic your booking has been canceled. The email notice asks you to fill out a form to claim your refund. Only the external form is a malicious one designed to capture your personal information. To avoid this scam, check the sender address on any such suspicious emails you receive.
