Don't get taken advantage of by scammers this holiday season!
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As the silly season rapidly approaches, we know that many of our members will be doing their Christmas shopping – both in-person and online.
You might get tired of hearing the same warnings over and over again, but with all of the hustle and bustle that comes along with this time of year, it’s easy to get caught up in sales and let your guard down when it comes to scams.
That's why we're here to remind you to be extra vigilant over the next few weeks, as cybercriminals are poised to take advantage of shoppers who might be more distracted than usual.
As the number of holiday season scams continues to rise, the Australian Federal Police have warned Aussies to avoid clicking on links in suspicious messages. They also urged people to be wary of fake delivery scams that could cost thousands of dollars. You can read more about that here.
According to the federal agency, scammers will be more active in December as they go after victims who may be more stressed – and as a result, more inattentive.
Chris Goldsmid, Cybercrime Operations Commander of the AFP, warned shoppers to be ‘extremely sceptical’ of messages that ask them to click on links.
He said: ‘Cyber criminals often impersonate trusted brands, such as legitimate parcel delivery services, to send messages designed to trick consumers into clicking on URLs containing harmful malware or providing personal information.’
He added that the sophisticated scam may include a technique called ‘spoofing’, wherein scammers make their messages look legitimate by using real company logos and fake sender details.
‘The messages would often ask people to click a link to track their package, confirm their delivery address or redirect or collect their package,’ Mr Goldsmid explained.
He continued that clicking on the link might lead to a fake company website, where victims are asked to enter personal or financial details to complete the ‘delivery’.
Additionally, there’s also a chance for these scammers to immediately install harmful malware on your device if you click on the links. This enables cybercriminals to access your personal data and infect your device.
Tell-tale signs of a scam message to look out for are grammatical errors, the usage of American language in some cases, odd-looking links, requests for personal information, or an unexplained sense of urgency.
‘If something doesn’t feel right, take the time to verify the request with the organisation using the contact information listed on their website,’ Mr Goldsmid added.
If you or someone you know fell victim to similar scams, contact the bank immediately to stop any transactions from getting through. Also, if you have received suspicious messages, report them immediately to the ACCC website.
We hope this helps you protect yourself against scammers this holiday season! If you want to spot more warning signs of scams, you can read our previous article here, and you can also read through our Scam Watch forum for more information.
You might get tired of hearing the same warnings over and over again, but with all of the hustle and bustle that comes along with this time of year, it’s easy to get caught up in sales and let your guard down when it comes to scams.
That's why we're here to remind you to be extra vigilant over the next few weeks, as cybercriminals are poised to take advantage of shoppers who might be more distracted than usual.
As the number of holiday season scams continues to rise, the Australian Federal Police have warned Aussies to avoid clicking on links in suspicious messages. They also urged people to be wary of fake delivery scams that could cost thousands of dollars. You can read more about that here.
According to the federal agency, scammers will be more active in December as they go after victims who may be more stressed – and as a result, more inattentive.
Be wary of fake delivery scams this Christmas. Credit: Polina Tankilevitch/Pexels
Chris Goldsmid, Cybercrime Operations Commander of the AFP, warned shoppers to be ‘extremely sceptical’ of messages that ask them to click on links.
He said: ‘Cyber criminals often impersonate trusted brands, such as legitimate parcel delivery services, to send messages designed to trick consumers into clicking on URLs containing harmful malware or providing personal information.’
He added that the sophisticated scam may include a technique called ‘spoofing’, wherein scammers make their messages look legitimate by using real company logos and fake sender details.
‘The messages would often ask people to click a link to track their package, confirm their delivery address or redirect or collect their package,’ Mr Goldsmid explained.
He continued that clicking on the link might lead to a fake company website, where victims are asked to enter personal or financial details to complete the ‘delivery’.
These scammers are now using high-tech systems for illegal activities. Credit: Negative Space/Pexels
Additionally, there’s also a chance for these scammers to immediately install harmful malware on your device if you click on the links. This enables cybercriminals to access your personal data and infect your device.
Tell-tale signs of a scam message to look out for are grammatical errors, the usage of American language in some cases, odd-looking links, requests for personal information, or an unexplained sense of urgency.
‘If something doesn’t feel right, take the time to verify the request with the organisation using the contact information listed on their website,’ Mr Goldsmid added.
If you or someone you know fell victim to similar scams, contact the bank immediately to stop any transactions from getting through. Also, if you have received suspicious messages, report them immediately to the ACCC website.
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