Christmas is almost here, and that means — among other things — your users are likely being targeted by some of the most common holiday-themed online scams.
Whether they’re conducted via spam e-mail, pop-up ads, or other methods, here are the biggest scams you should warn users about, according to ComputerWorld:
- Win a free iPad – Scams promising free gadgets in exchange for filling out a survey (and providing key personal and financial information) are conducted year-round, but the popularity of the iPad as a holiday gift has led to scammers ramping up their efforts on this one.
- Tampered gift cards – Experts warn about the dangers of gift cards that have already been stripped of their value by criminals. Apparently, these thieves buy a cheap portable scanner that they use to transfer the funds off the card into their bank accounts, and place the cards back on the display. To avoid buying a worthless gift card, experts suggest buying them from stores that keep them behind the counter.
- Bad e-cards – With the rise in popularity of e-cards, scammers have begun using phony e-card notification e-mails to spread malware.
- Fake charities – One of scammers’ favorite ploys is to prey on their victims’ kindness, and things are no different around the holidays. Remind users: Charities don’t typical solicit donations through e-mail. If they get a message asking for money, it’s probably a scam.