Scam Alert for December 2024
Unfortunately, not even scammers take a break during the holidays! In fact, this time of year is when scams and phishing schemes are more likely. With the influx of online activity due to general holiday shopping and days like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, it’s easier for scammers to sneak suspicious-looking links and spam messages into the many emails and shipping confirmations you’re already receiving. That’s why 309 Marketing wants to take the time to remind you to be vigilant when inspecting incoming emails and to stay on the lookout for a few common scams occurring this time of year, about which even the FBI has issued warnings.
Popular Scams in 2024
- PayPal Money Request – A deceptive scheme where fraudsters attempt to trick individuals into sending money to them or providing personal and financial information over the phone. These scams often involve fraudulent invoices or money requests that contain alarming messages, urging recipients to quickly resolve an alleged issue on their PayPal accounts.
- Shipping Address Confirmation – Emails that seem like legitimate shipping confirmations from major retailers, such as Amazon or Walmart, requesting confirmation of your address. These emails often ask for more sensitive or personal information besides your physical address, including credit card details and social security numbers.
- Gift Card Scams – In this type of scam, victims receive unsolicited messages claiming they have won a gift card from a popular retailer or website. The message often contains a link where recipients are asked to enter their personal information to redeem the supposed gift card. In reality, these links lead to malicious websites scammers use to collect sensitive data.
- Non-Delivery Scams – During the holiday season, fraudsters create fake e-commerce websites and place illegitimate product listings on trusted platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. These scams attempt to trick shoppers by offering must-have gifts at incredible discounts. After a shopper has entered their payment and shipping info, the scammers take the money and never deliver the goods.
- Fake Charities – Professional scammers know how to tug on the heartstrings and take advantage of others’ kindness during the holidays. By using seemingly real names and logos that emulate reputable charities, fraudsters can elicit payments from others under the guise of “charitable donations” made via untraceable payment methods such as gift cards or wire transfers.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
How can you protect yourself from getting dupped with so many different types of scams to be cautious of during the holiday season? Although scammers and their phishing schemes seem to be getting harder and harder to detect, there are still red flags you can be aware of when telling what’s legitimate and what isn’t. Here are a few helpful tips for catching a scam before it catches you:
- Be Skeptical of Urgency – Scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure you into making hasty decisions. Be cautious of emails demanding immediate action or offering limited-time deals.
- Check Sender’s Email Address – Pay close attention to the sender’s email address. Scammers may use email addresses that closely resemble legitimate ones but contain slight variations or misspellings.
- Hover Over Links – Before clicking on any links in an email, hover your cursor over them to view the actual URL. Do not click on it if it looks suspicious or different from what the email claims.
- Beware of Poor Grammar and Spelling – Many phishing emails contain grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or awkward language. Legitimate organizations generally have professional communications without these errors.
- Verify Requests for Personal Information – Be cautious of emails requesting personal or financial information. Legitimate organizations typically do not ask for sensitive details via email.
- Don’t Trust Unsolicited Attachments – Avoid opening unsolicited email attachments, especially from unknown senders. These attachments may contain malware or viruses.
- Use Two-Factor Authentication – Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. This adds an extra layer of security to your accounts and helps prevent unauthorized access.
Stay Secure this Holiday Season
When doing your holiday shopping for 2024, always stay vigilant for potential scams! The last thing you need is for your holiday celebrations to be soured by fraudsters. Otherwise, if you or your business require additional guidance or advertising for the upcoming year, give 309 Marketing Group a call! We can assist with web development and digital marketing for any business or industry across the Midwest. Contact us today at 309-213-9398 to request a free consultation with our team.