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.
Fraudsters prey on the elderly, especially during the holidays. The way the scam works is that the victims gets an unsolicited call or an email from someone who claims to be their grandchild. The caller says there’s an emergency, like they are stuck in a foreign country or have been arrested and asks that money be sent immediately by wiring the funds or loading money onto a pre-paid card.
Tip: Never respond to unsolicited calls or emails and never send money. Call the actual relative immediately to make sure there is no issue. Those caring for their elderly parents should educate them on this scam.
You can learn more about how to protect yourself from Grandparent Scam 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.
