With holiday shopping season just around the corner, the FBI has recently published an online PSA warning consumers to be careful when giving their personal and credit card information to unknown parties or untrusted websites.
Cyber criminals use many techniques to trick consumers like offering deals that seem ‘too good to be true’ through phishing emails, make outlandish statements such as ‘quick money making offers’ and even offer gift cards to consumers as incentives for purchasing an item through these untrusted websites. Learn more about how to avoid falling for a phishing scam
What ends up happening is the consumer falls for the offer, enters in their credit card information for an item offered, end up receiving nothing in return or an item that was not what was ordered and now their credit card and personal information has been compromised and quite possibly their identity.
The FBI also cautioned consumers to protect the barcode of any sporting, concert, and theater tickets they may be giving or receiving during the holiday season. Online thieves prey on the social media photos of these tickets and use the barcode obtained to resell the ticket.
It’s also very important to check your credit card statement routinely during this time of year, as well as to not respond/click on links or attached files from unknown or unsolicited emails. These emails can contain links with viruses that could potentially harm your IT environment.
Read the FBI’s Online Statement Here