节日是庆祝活动、欢呼和欢笑的代名词。这也是“一年中期待已久的时间”，华丽的折扣标志以其特殊的节日促销和优惠吸引购物狂：“销售期”的开始。虽然您在网上购物时总能省钱(save money while shopping online)，但您必须小心并远离诈骗。
假期诈骗
当兴奋的购物者忙于抢购最热门的商品和便宜货时，假日购物骗局也变得猖獗。谨防(Beware)这些“新时代”在线和移动购物欺诈，以保护您的资产和身份并享受无忧无虑的假期。
随着越来越多的人现在使用互联网(Internet)和手机进行更快和最后一分钟的购物，我们的犯罪英雄也希望在您在线购物时赚取一些钱等。这些骗局不仅会掠夺天真的顾客的钱，而且还构成威胁身份盗窃。
以下是您应该提防的一些最谨慎的购物季骗局。
阅读(Read)：如何在全球速卖通上安全购物而不会被骗。(How to shop safely on AliExpress without being scammed.)
最热门的在线交易并不那么热门
随着假期期间在线购物者的数量激增，假网站、假冒礼品卡、虚假竞赛、短信(SMS)和数字诈骗的数量也在激增。客户被诱骗购买“一次性价格的名牌产品”或购买被证明是假冒产品的惊人交易是网上购物旺季常见的骗局。参加社交媒体竞赛以赢得特殊的节日礼物篮也可能让您陷入困境。只需单击一下您的终端，网络犯罪分子就可以非法访问您的个人和财务信息并以非法方式使用它。
阅读(Read)：在线约会中要避免的错误。
避免网上购物欺诈和诈骗
(Shop)负责任地购物。在经过客户安全验证并具有与合法银行和服务提供商链接的安全支付网关的真实电子商务网站上进行交易。
移动购物可能是恶意的
现代网络犯罪分子总是在寻找那些不完全了解移动购物所有方面的天真的客户。他们创建外观真实的移动网站并发送看起来合法的促销广告。他们还添加了虚假的名人代言，以免引起怀疑。此类内容在智能手机上访问或下载时，可能会拦截、修改和滥用所有现有数据，包括与您的身份和资产相关的联系信息、银行详细信息和密码。
解决方案：在将它们下载到您的手机或平板电脑之前(Solution: )查看(Review)移动网站和应用程序，并在冲刺购物之前阅读用户评论。
在线捐赠：给慈善机构(Charity)或罪犯
在节日期间慷慨大方是高尚的，但对虚假的“情感勒索”视而不见是不明智的。网络(Cyber)犯罪分子使用真实的机构徽标创建虚假电子邮件活动，并通过狡猾的在线链接通过精心编写和耸人听闻的宣传“推动”您进行捐赠。当您对自己的“善行”感觉良好时，他们会吞下您辛苦赚来的钱。
解决方案：(Solution:)如果您想露出弱势的笑容，请对您希望捐赠的慈善机构或基金会进行彻底的背景调查。他们总是有合法的联系信息，以便您可以直接与他们取得联系。最重要的是，切勿向任何未知实体透露您的个人或银行详细信息。
阅读：(Read:) 点击任何链接之前的注意事项(Precautions to take before you click on any link)。
(Travel Scams)可以带您兜风的(Ride)旅行骗局
通过社交媒体网站或电子邮件收到的旅行(Travel)优惠和链接可能会欺骗您提交您的个人信息。访问恶意网站可能会使您的计算机感染病毒和恶意软件，并使诈骗者有机会强迫您进行虚假购买。
解决方案：(Solution: )在您购买仅 300 美元的Euro Tour套餐优惠之前，请先对服务提供商的资质和真实性进行一些调查。阅读客户评论以检查公司或优惠是否合法，并且不要忘记在任何此类在线活动后在您的计算机上运行防病毒扫描。
在此处阅读有关最常见的在线和电子邮件诈骗和欺诈(most common Online and Email scams & frauds)的信息。(Read here about the most common Online and Email scams & frauds.)
向您的亲人(Loved)发送电子问候和恶意(Ones)软件(Malware)
借助电子贺卡，您可以快速方便地向远离您的家人和朋友传达季节的问候。但是，其中一些也可能携带恶意软件，当您的亲人点击打开链接或下载电子邮件附件时，他们可能会在他们的系统上下载恶意病毒。
解决方案：(Solution: )选择(Choose)知名的服务提供商。在附件链接中查找拼写错误的名称和单词。如果您发现任何谬误，只需点击“删除”按钮，拿起电话给您的家人或朋友打个电话。他们会喜欢的！
不要让这些节日购物骗局毁了你的节日气氛。请记住(Bear)避免网上购物诈骗的简单解决方案，并享受您的假期而不被欺骗！从Microsoft下载这本小册子。它讨论了如何避免在线欺诈。
这篇关于信用卡掠夺和盗窃欺诈(Credit Card Skimming and Pin Theft Frauds)的帖子也可能会让您感兴趣。(This post on Credit Card Skimming and Pin Theft Frauds may also interest you.)
说到诈骗，其中一些链接肯定会让您感兴趣：(Speaking of scams, some of these links are sure to interest you:)
- 避免在线诈骗并知道何时信任网站(Avoid online scams and know when to trust a website)
- 谨防税务诈骗
- 谨防虚假的在线就业和工作诈骗(Beware of Fake Online Employment and Job Scams)
- 避免在线技术支持诈骗和 PC 清理解决方案(Avoid Online Tech Support Scams and PC Cleanup Solutions)
- 避免网络钓鱼诈骗和攻击(Avoid Phishing Scams And Attacks)
- 避免 Vishing 和 Smishing 诈骗
- 避免欺诈性使用 Microsoft 名称的诈骗(Avoid scams that fraudulently use the Microsoft name)
- 避免网络鲶鱼社会工程诈骗。(Avoid Internet Catfishing Social Engineering Scams.)
帕拉维·杜贝 助攻(Assisted by Pallavi Dubey)
Avoid Online Shopping Fraud & Holiday Season Scams
The holiday season is synonymous with feѕtivities, сheer, and mirth. It iѕ also that “much-awaited time of the year” when flashy discount signѕ lυre shopaholics with their ѕpeciаl festive promotionѕ and offer: the beginnіng of the “Sale Period”. While yоu сan always save money while shopping online, you have to be careful and stay away from scams.
Holiday Season Scams
While excited shoppers get busy grabbing the hottest deals and bargains, holiday season shopping scams also become rampant. Beware of these ‘new age’ online and mobile shopping frauds to protect your assets and identity and to enjoy carefree holidays.
As more and more people now use Internet and mobile phones for faster and last-minute purchases, our criminal heroes too wish to make some money when you shop online, etc. These scams not only rob naïve customers of their money but also pose a threat of identity theft.
Here are some of the most discreetly manipulative shopping season scams that you should beware of.
Read: How to shop safely on AliExpress without being scammed.
Hottest Online Deals are not so Hot
With the number of online shoppers burgeoning during the holiday season, the figures of fake websites, counterfeit gift cards, phony contests, SMS and digital scams shoot up too. Customers getting tricked into buying ‘designer products at throwaway prices’ or bagging amazing deals that turn out to be counterfeit products are common online shopping season scams. Entering social media contests to win a special holiday season gift hamper may land you in trouble too. It just takes one click on your end to have cyber criminals gain illegitimate access to your personal and financial information and use it in an illegal manner.
Read: Mistakes to avoid in Online Dating.
Avoid Online Shopping Fraud & Scams
Shop responsibly. Transact on authentic e-commerce websites that are verified for customer safety and have secure payment gateways linked to legitimate banks and service providers.
Mobile Shopping can be Malicious
Modern-day cyber criminals are always on the prowl for naïve customers who do not completely understand all the aspects of mobile shopping. They create genuine-looking mobile websites and send promotional advertisements that look legitimate. They also add fake celebrity endorsements so as not to raise doubts. Such content, when accessed or downloaded on a smart phone, may intercept, modify and misuse all existing data, including contact information, bank details, and passwords pertaining to your identity and assets.
Solution: Review mobile websites and applications before downloading them on your mobile or tablet and read user reviews before shopping in a sprint.
Online Donations: To a Charity or a Criminal
Being generous during the holiday season is noble, but being blind to fake ‘emotional blackmail’ is unwise. Cyber criminals use authentic institution logos to create fake email campaigns and “move” you to make a donation through well-written and sensational pitches through dodgy online links. While you feel good about your ‘kind deed’, they gulp down your hard-earned money.
Solution: If you feel like making an underprivileged smile, conduct a thorough background research of the charity or foundation you wish to donate to. They always have legitimate contact information so that you can get in touch with them directly. Most importantly, never divulge your personal or bank details with any unknown entity.
Read: Precautions to take before you click on any link.
Travel Scams that can take you for a Ride
Travel deals and links received through social media sites or emails may hoodwink you into submitting your personal information. Visiting malicious websites may infect your computer with virus and malware and give scamsters the opportunity to compel you into making a fake purchase.
Solution: Before you jump on a Euro Tour package offer for just $300, carry out a little research about the service provider’s credentials and authenticity. Read customer reviews to check if the company or the offer is legitimate and do not forget to run an anti-virus scan on your computer after any such online activity.
Read here about the most common Online and Email scams & frauds.
Sending E-Greetings and Malware to your Loved Ones
Thanks to e-cards, you can convey season’s greetings to your family and friends located miles away from you in a quick and convenient manner. But, some of them may also carry malware and may lead your loved ones to download a malicious virus on their systems when they click to open a link or download an email attachment.
Solution: Choose reputed service providers. Look for misspelled names and words in the attachment links. If you find any fallacies, simply hit the ‘Delete’ button, pick up the phone and give your family or friends a call. They would love it!
Don’t let these holiday season shopping scams ruin your festive spirit. Bear in mind the simple solutions to avoid online shopping scams and enjoy your holidays without being duped! Download this booklet from Microsoft. It talks about how to stay safe from online fraud.
This post on Credit Card Skimming and Pin Theft Frauds may also interest you.
Speaking of scams, some of these links are sure to interest you:
- Avoid online scams and know when to trust a website
- Beware of Tax Scams
- Beware of Fake Online Employment and Job Scams
- Avoid Online Tech Support Scams and PC Cleanup Solutions
- Avoid Phishing Scams And Attacks
- Avoid Vishing and Smishing Scams
- Avoid scams that fraudulently use the Microsoft name
- Avoid Internet Catfishing Social Engineering Scams.
Assisted by Pallavi Dubey
