Don't Become a Holiday Cybercrime Victim |
How can you avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime during the holiday season? Start by slowing down, updating your computer systems and adding two-factor authentication to your accounts, says Fastly's Kelly Shortlidge.
Here are some other strategies suggested in a WSJ article on holiday fraud:
- Double-check email, social media and text offers for legitimacy.
- Confirm the website you are visiting is secure. The URL should display a lock icon and an https address.
- Check review sites to confirm that a discount is legit.
- Pay with credit cards rather than debit cards.
- Use strong passwords or log in as guests on shopping sites.
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Watch Out For Delivery Scams |
Delivery scams continue to increase year-over-year. Here are six steps the Better Business Bureau says you should take to avoid getting burned:
- Look out for phishing emails or texts that pose as official notices from delivery companies. They could contain a link that steals your personal information or downloads malware to your computer.
- Don't leave packages on your doorstep.
- Take advantage of online tracking services.
- Monitor your front door. If you catch thieves in the act, alert your postal inspector.
- Customize the delivery. If the package is larger than your mailbox, arrange dropoff at an out-of-sight location or at the carrier's facility.
- Watch for suspicious activity.
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Avoid the Boss Gift Card Scam |
This holiday season, don't allow fraudsters to hit you with a variation of the classic gift card scam. Here, someone hacks into company emails. They then send requests to employees asking them to buy gift cards to cover the cost of company events with a promise of reimbursement. After you hand over the card numbers and pins, the money vanishes.
Robert E. Holtfreter, a member of AFCE's advisory council, advises:
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10 Ways to Avoid Holiday Charity Fraud |
The Christmas holidays are a time of giving. For criminals, they're prime time for creating charity scams. Thieves can make unsolicited donation requests, impersonate a celebrity purportedly raising money for a legitimate organization, create a fake charity and more.
Here are 10 ways to protect yourself from charity scams:
- Use charity watchdog groups to verify authenticity, e.g., Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, BBB.
- Donate via the charity's official website.
- Confirm how the money will be spent to support the program or cause.
- Keeps records of your donations; review your credit card account.
- Don't give out personal info, e.g., DOB, Social Security number, bank account number.
- Don't use cash, gift cards or crypto to make donations.
- Don't click unsolicited links.
- Do your own research.
- Don't be pressured by telemarketers.
- Be wary of deceptive tactics and emotional appeals.
Sources: FBI, AARP and BBB
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How We Can Help
IAS can help you identify, deter, investigate and resolve fraud in your company. We can audit your internal controls, create a loss prevention and internal audit program, conduct loss prevention workshops, and most importantly investigate suspected fraud.
Our investigations can obtain signed confessions, restitution and even prosecutions.
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