It’s the most wonderful time of the year… however, as we welcome the season of joy and celebration with our family and friends, we must also be vigilant of cybercriminals seeking to take advantage of our good spirits and trusting nature. Cybercriminals are experts at exploiting our natural tendencies to trust others and to be helpful, so it’s important to be aware of the different tactics they may use to try and deceive you this holiday season, so you can guard against them. Here are three phishing scams to look out for this holiday season:
Phishing Scam #1: Email phishing attacks
Be careful when opening and downloading those e-Christmas cards this holiday! Advanced malware and Ransomware attacks are commonly delivered via phishing emails and are designed to hijack your data and lock you out of your own system.
Email phishing attacks use malicious links, attachments, and websites to spread malicious code to recipients. So, if a strange email comes across your inbox with an unfamiliar sender or subject line, think twice before opening it. Here are some tips you can use to spot and avoid phishing emails.
Phishing Scam #2: Smishing attacks
With the recent news of over 400,000 Jamaican contact numbers being exposed in a massive WhatsApp data leak, you should definitely be on the lookout for smishing attacks.
Smishing attacks are text message scams sent to your phone from a malicious sender. These texts can include seemingly “thoughtful” Christmas messages and free gift cards with malicious links or code that, once clicked, can give scammers full access to your personal information – which you definitely don’t want happening.
So be careful when opening text messages and never click on any suspicious links within them unless you trust the source 100%, and even then, it’s best to still take precautions.
Phishing Scam #3: Vishing Attacks
Also tied to the WhatsApp data leak, another scam that can find its way to you this holiday, is vishing attacks. Vishing attacks are attacks that use voice calls to try and trick people into revealing personal or financial information.
The caller will usually sound professional and friendly, trying to get you to trust them with your private details. They may even offer a prize or special deal if you provide them with the requested information.
This Christmas, be sure to question any suspicious calls and never give out your private information.
To Wrap Things Up…
Phishing scams are a common occurrence that won’t stop, despite the holidays. In fact, cybercriminals are now more inclined to take advantage of people’s trusting nature and natural inclinations to celebrate. It is important to not let your guard down even in the midst of all the festivities. Be on the lookout for any suspicious emails, texts, or calls in an attempt to scam you and steal your joy, so that you can be safe and secure this Christmas.
Happy Holidays from Info Exchange! ??
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