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.
Counterfeit items. Counterfeit and resold items from major retailers have become very popular in recent years. Online shoppers can't hold an object and assess its quality, and cybercriminals love to sell fake products for big markups. Counterfeiting and resold products have been a particular struggle for Amazon, and there is a growing number of eBay flippers who repackage sold-out products for outrageous prices. Counterfeit items are hard to spot, but your best guide is the rating system available on most sites. If a store has a 55-percent approval rating and has only made 30 transactions, that's a very bad sign. Customers are usually quick to criticize a bogus company and report faulty products.
Data breaches. When cybercriminals create fake websites, they're often seeking more than your credit card information: They may want to steal your identity as well. If an unfamiliar website is asking for more information than you would normally enter, you should probably stop your purchase until you're sure the website is safe.
One way to protect yourself from a breach is to shop from dependable merchants, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're 100 percent safe. As we've seen from the past, hackers focus on large companies such as Target, Wendy's, and Yahoo to steal logins, passwords and credit card information. But even if a company name and logo are familiar, keep an eye out for fake emails, shopping apps and URLs that imitate real companies. Be suspicious of any mysterious gift cards and offers for free gifts from retailers you have never dealt with. Most importantly, never give out personal information on the internet unless you are 100 percent confident that the site is real.
What steps do you take to keep safe when shopping online? Drop us a line and let us know. Please share this information with everyone.
Looking for More Useful Tech Tips?
Our Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, we LIVE STREAM new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People' every Wednesday at 6:00 pm CST on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Technology product reviews are posted every Thursday. You can view previous episodes on our YouTube channel.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter! Click this link to sign-up and subscribe and you will receive every tip directly in your inbox each week.
Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone.Â
Need computer or technology help? If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.Â
Please share this with your friends and family! If you found this post useful, would you mind helping me out by sharing it? Just click one of the handy social media sharing buttons below.
#techtips #technology #tech #technews #techreview #techgadgets #techtricks #techtalks #techyoutuber #instatech #technologynews #techsupport #covid #smartphone #tablet #computertips #computernews #computerreview #computersupport #apple #microsoft #samsung #hp #dell
Just remember to let him win every once in a while.
Fitbit Flex 2, $59.95