What Holiday Scams Do I Need to Avoid This Year?

As online transactions explode over the next few weeks, cybercriminals will do their best to try to get your credit card and personal data. Here are three ways that hackers try to trick you into parting you with data, and what you can do about it.

Phishing scams. Phishing techniques usually come in the form of spam emails advertising special sales and phony gift cards. The most recent example was a massive email scam purporting to be from Amazon. But more sophisticated con artists will set up realistic-looking online shops. To put it mildly, if one of these merchants receives your payment information, you will get more than you bargained for.