How to protect yourself from fraud during online shopping on holiday discounts: FBI recommendations
1 december 2024 в 20:37
Black Friday officially marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season, but with discounts increasing beyond physical stores and moving into the online space earlier every year, it is extremely important for consumers to remain vigilant ahead of the approaching Cyber Monday.
«Every year, thousands of people fall victim to holiday scams. Scammers can rob you of your hard-earned money, personal information, and, at the very least, your holiday spirit», - warned the FBI on its website.
Learn more about the FBI’s recommendations for protecting yourself during online holiday shopping deals.
The FBI issued a warning about four common types of online fraud:
Non-payment and non-delivery scams cost consumers over $ 309 million in 2023, and credit card fraud led to additional losses of $ 173 million, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The FBI noted that IC3 receives a surge of complaints at the beginning of each year, indicating a strong correlation with fraud that occurred during the previous holiday shopping season.
The FBI warned consumers on November 29 through a post on X, saying: «Don't let #holiday excitement cloud your judgment! Always verify the legitimacy of online retailers and be cautious with unsolicited offers».
To help shoppers stay safe, the agency provided an unofficial security checklist on how to verify the reliability of websites before making a purchase:
If you believe you have become a victim of online fraud, it is crucial to act quickly to minimize damage and protect yourself. Provided by ESET, here is a step-by-step guide on what to do:
«Every year, thousands of people fall victim to holiday scams. Scammers can rob you of your hard-earned money, personal information, and, at the very least, your holiday spirit», - warned the FBI on its website.
Learn more about the FBI’s recommendations for protecting yourself during online holiday shopping deals.
The FBI issued a warning about four common types of online fraud:
Non-payment and non-delivery scams cost consumers over $ 309 million in 2023, and credit card fraud led to additional losses of $ 173 million, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The FBI noted that IC3 receives a surge of complaints at the beginning of each year, indicating a strong correlation with fraud that occurred during the previous holiday shopping season.
The FBI warned consumers on November 29 through a post on X, saying: «Don't let #holiday excitement cloud your judgment! Always verify the legitimacy of online retailers and be cautious with unsolicited offers».
To help shoppers stay safe, the agency provided an unofficial security checklist on how to verify the reliability of websites before making a purchase:
If you believe you have become a victim of online fraud, it is crucial to act quickly to minimize damage and protect yourself. Provided by ESET, here is a step-by-step guide on what to do:
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