When time is limited, the ease of online shopping adds allure, but convenience comes with a catch: scammers targeting your shopping session. These scams can take several forms, from phishing to fake websites, and they’re often very convincing. According to PEW Research, three-quarters of U.S. adults have experienced at least one type of scam or cyber-attack, with nearly one-third reporting an incident in the past year.
The FBI released a recent warning to the public about a growing cyber threat that uses fake websites and hidden redirect links to steal your personal information, debit or credit card numbers, spread malware, and carry out financial scams. Officials say that victims can encounter these websites and hidden redirect links after clicking online advertisements, visiting compromised websites, following links in a phishing email, or downloading what appear to be legitimate software updates.
So, while social media is a great place to find unique gift ideas, it can also include fake links or products. It’s important to know that most social media sites do not vet their advertisers. This means cyber criminals can post an ad designed to look like your favorite brand or a cool new product to lure you into a fake website, promising drastically lower-than-retail prices.
To reduce the risk of becoming a victim, the FBI recommends checking website addresses before clicking links, keeping software and plugins updated, using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and only downloading software from trusted sources.
Additional safety tips while online shopping:
- Click on the website’s address bar to view the full web address and verify that it begins with https://. The “s” in https means the site is secure.
- Check for typos in the hyperlink name.
- Be wary of sales that are too good to be true and pressure you to act quickly. Many of these cyber criminals lure folks in with advertisements for limited time deals on electronics, designer items, and other popular goods for significant discounts compared to market value.
- If you are questioning the authenticity of a website, look for a privacy policy and return policy, and make sure it looks legitimate.
- Legitimate businesses typically provide a secure checkout option that accepts credit cards or debit cards through a trusted payment processor. If a website does not offer traditional payment methods and instead insists that you send funds directly to an individual via a person-to-person payment service, use caution. Before making a payment, research the website and verify its legitimacy. The Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker tool can help you search a phone number, website, email address, or business name to determine whether other customers have reported suspicious activity.
Whenever you shop online, protect yourself by paying with a credit card and doing your own research on the product. Fraudsters are trying to prey on your distraction, so the most important thing to do is stay alert and slow down.
If you’ve accidentally fallen for one of these scams, don’t panic. Notify your bank and credit card company immediately. They will be able to advise you on whether locking your account or card is enough to keep you protected, or whether further action is needed.
For more information about protecting yourself, please check out Embassy Bank’s Security Center for more tools and tips.
