The holiday season is the prime time for fraudsters looking to take advantage of distracted, frenzied shoppers. Consumers are worried about protecting their data because of the spike in hack attacks, phishing schemes and scams. Despite the festivities and spirit of giving, it is becoming more difficult for consumers to avoid the bad guys in a dangerous digital world.
Don’t let Cyber Grinches steal your cash and holiday cheer. To keep you cyber safe for the holidays, we’ll be counting down the twelve most popular scams to watch out for this season.
How safe are you at the ATM this holiday season? As consumers prepare to shop till they drop, many will be using their ATM debit card for transactions. ATM skimming is a tried and true tool of the trade for scammers and there is usually a spike in ATM skimming, robberies and related identity theft during the holiday season.
Tip: Consumers should use ATMs in bank environments and avoid stand alone ATMs at convenient stores or gas stations. Make sure to cover the keypad with your hands when entering your pin. Use strong pins that are not easily decipherable and monitor accounts for any suspicious activity.
You can learn more about how to protect yourself from ATM skimming and other scams from Adam Levin’s newest book, Swiped: How to Protect Yourself in a World Full of Scammers, Phishers, and Identity Thieves. This is your survival guide to help you avoid hackers, phishers, and scammers from becoming your problem during the holidays. With a clear headed, practical approach, Swiped is invaluable not only for preventing problems but helping consumers cope when dealing with identity theft incidents. Order your copy of the best selling Privacy and Online Safety book on Amazon.
