Don’t be fooled! These are the most typical cyber scams at Christmas

Because days are approaching when you will buy a lot online, and also because you will spend a lot of time away from home, traveling or at Christmas events on the street. Far from thinking that everything is beautiful in such a magical time of year, you have to be careful because bad guys don’t take vacations. In fact, as happens in the summer or any other holiday, criminals bring out their catalog of scams and ways to try to steal from you, and you have to be careful not to fall into the trap. These are the most typical Christmas cyber scams.

False charitable causes: they play with our kindness

It is common for people to be more generous at Christmas. Unfortunately, some take advantage of this spirit of solidarity to invent false charity campaigns. These usually appear in the form of emails, messages on social networks or even websites that seem trustworthy.

The trick is to appeal to our emotions, showing heartbreaking stories or moving images. When we click, whether to donate or simply to learn more, we may be sharing personal or financial data without realizing it.

How to avoid it?

• If you receive a link from an organization you don’t know, search for it directly on the Internet to confirm it exists.
• Never donate through unknown links or share personal information.

Deals too good to be true

A latest model phone at 80% off? A giant television for €50? It sure sounds familiar to you. These offers usually arrive by email or social networks and take you to pages that imitate those of big brands.

The objective is clear: get your banking details or infect your device with malware. The worst thing is that, by the time you make the purchase, you will have already given all the information they need to steal from you.

To do?

• Be wary of offers that seem incredible.
• Before purchasing from a website, verify that it is official. Look at the URL and search the Internet for reviews.

Fake order confirmations

With so much online shopping these days, it’s easy to lose track of the packages we’re expecting. Scammers know this and send emails or SMS claiming to be from courier companies, reporting problems with your shipments or asking you to confirm data. By clicking, you may end up on a scam site that steals your information or installs malware on your device.

Keys to protect yourself:

• Keep track of your purchases and always check the official emails of the stores where you have purchased.
• Never click on links in suspicious messages. Go directly to the company’s official website.

Famous brand impersonation

A common technique is to create pages that imitate those of large brands, with almost identical logos and designs. These fake websites advertise great discounts so you can make purchases quickly. The result? You lose your money and share your data with scammers. Avoid it like this:

• Always check that the URL of the page matches the official one of the brand.
• If something doesn’t fit you (such as spelling errors or poor designs), leave the website.

Gift card scams

Gift cards are an easy and very useful resource for last minute gifts. However, they are also a frequent target of scammers, who try to guess the codes to redeem them before you do.

Practical tips:

• Buy gift cards only in official stores.
• Use the cards as soon as possible to reduce the risk.

The best way to protect yourself from these scams is to exercise caution and distrust, especially when something seems too good to be true. Remember: cybercriminals take advantage of our oversights, but a vigilant attitude can thwart their plans.

This Christmas, enjoy the holidays and take care of your loved ones. But also take care of your personal information. Happy holidays!