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Cybersecurity Hints & Tips: Holiday and Seasonal Scams

by Fortem Financial December 20, 2023

Cybersecurity Hints & Tips: Holiday and Seasonal Scams

With the ever-growing popularity of online shopping and online communications, you should always have your guard up in the cyberworld. Criminals will use any situation to their advantage–especially when it comes to annual holidays. Below you’ll find a few examples of commonly used seasonal and holiday scams, and what you can do to protect yourself.

Fake Shipping Notifications

End of the year holidays invite a greater likelihood of this common phishing attack, but this is a scam you must be cautious of all year long. Scammers send fake notifications that appear to come from postal service companies. The emails include dangerous links that, if clicked, could install malware on your computer or take you to a fake login page where your credentials will be stolen.

To check the legitimacy of these types of claims, always login to your online account or service through your browser—not through links in unexpected emails.

The holiday season is quickly approaching and with it, holiday shopping. You can expect to see special sales from retailers and sneaky scams from cybercriminals. During the holiday season, cybercriminals may try to trick you with spoofed apps and malicious email attachments.

Watch Out for Spoofed Apps

Today, it’s common for retailers to have mobile apps that offer exclusive discounts and allow you to make purchases from your device. Cybercriminals can create spoofed apps that look like they’re from a legitimate retailer. These spoofed apps will even allow you to place an order. But instead of receiving your item, you’ll be delivering your payment information to cybercriminals.

Watch Out for Malicious Attachments

Many retailers will send coupons and shipping information through email attachments. Cybercriminals often impersonate legitimate retailers’ emails to send malicious email attachments. These emails prompt you to act quickly to receive a discount or even free items. But if you download any of these attachments, the only free thing you're likely to get is malware.

Travel Deals and Offers

Scammers know that their potential victims travel for holidays throughout the year. Cybercriminals send emails offering fake travel deals from well-known travel sites. They’re even known to create phony websites for cheap hotels and flights so they can rob you of your money.

When something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Never click on links in unexpected emails. Before booking through an unfamiliar service, do your research and ensure the company is legitimate.

Social Media Deals and Sales

All social media advertisements are not created equal. A “paid advertisement” may seem trustworthy but be warned: Anyone can pay to put an ad on social media. During holidays and popular shopping seasons, fraudsters buy ads that offer deals for items that you’re more-than-likely interested in–considering social media ads target the buyer market. The ads typically contain phishing links that lead to fraudulent websites where they will steal your credit card data. Even if the malicious ad is reported and removed, the bad guys typically only need one victim to fall for their trick to make it worth their investment.

What Can I Do to Stay Safe?

Follow the tips below to stay safe from shopping scams this holiday season:

  • Only download apps from verified app stores or the retailer’s official website.
  • Be cautious of unexpected opportunities to save money. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Always hover over links and URLs before clicking to check whether the URL will take you to a dangerous or unexpected site. If a social media ad appears to be from a company you’re familiar with, check the company’s website instead of clicking on links from the ad.

Think before you click! Cyberattacks are designed to trigger you to click links impulsively.

 

Warmest wishes,

Your friends at Fortem Financial

Fortem Financial
(760) 206-8500
team@fortemfin.com

 

Brian Amidei, along with Partners Joseph Romano and Brett D'Orlando have also been named *2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers!

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Awards and recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, companies, and/or publications should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Fortem is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services; nor should they be construed as a current or past endorsement of Fortem or its representatives by any of its clients. Rankings published by magazines and others are generally based on information prepared and/or submitted by the recognized advisor. Awards may not be indicative of one client’s experience or of the Firm’s future performance. Neither Fortem nor the recognized advisor has paid a fee for inclusion on a list, nor purchased any additional material from the award provider. The criteria for each award is listed below:

Five Star Professional Disclosure:
The Five Star Wealth Manager award is based on 10 eligibility and evaluation criteria: 1) Credentialed as an investment advisory representative (IAR) or a registered investment advisor; 2) Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years; 3) Favorable regulatory and complaint history review; 4) Fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards; 5) Accepting new clients; 6) One-year client retention rate; 7) Five-year client retention rate; 8) Non-institutionalized discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9) Number of client households served; and 10) Educational and professional designations. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or the magazine. The award methodology does not evaluate the quality of services provided. Additional information about this award is available at: fivestarprofessional.com/2016FiveStarWealthManagerMethodology.pdf
Fortem Financial 2016. All rights reserved.

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