Technologies
2022 Black Friday: Make Sure You Avoid All the Elaborate Scams
Scammers don’t take a break during the holidays. Learn what to watch for to protect yourself.
This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.
Black Friday arrives the day after Thanksgiving — which is Nov. 25 this year. It’ll be a day filled with deals on items like headphones and TVs, but with all that potential money flowing from customers to stores, cybercriminals are unfortunately looking to steal some of it.
Scammers work year round, but they turn up their efforts during the high-spending holiday season to exploit the spirit of giving.
The scams range far and wide — as retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart roll out deals over the holidays, fraudsters create elaborate websites to trick you into spending money on products you’ll never receive. You may receive text messages or emails claiming you’re eligible for a refund for an item you never purchased, just so thieves can get your credit card information. You might even be enticed into donating to a charity that provides homes for abandoned puppies — only to find out it doesn’t actually exist.
Scams come in all shapes and sizes, but there are always red flags to help spot them. Here’s what you need to know about Black Friday scams and how to avoid becoming a victim this holiday season.
For more about security and privacy this holiday season, check out how to protect yourself from identity theft, how to protect your phone app privacy, and the most common cryptocurrency scams.
Fake websites and fraudulent apps go ‘phishing’
In a phishing scheme, the goal is for hackers to get their hands on your personal information, like your credit card number, social security or account password. Pretending to be a large retail corporation, the fraudsters send out an official-looking email or text message, usually with a link to a fraudulent website designed to look just like a legitimate site.
Researchers at security firm Avanan discovered that hackers were sending out spoofed Amazon order notification emails. The email resembled your run-of-the-mill order confirmation, except that the order is false and the charge is significant.
Naturally, if you believe you’re being charged for a substantial amount, you would want to reach out to Amazon. But in this instance, if you use the link in the phishing email to get in contact, you’ll be redirected to a fake Amazon webpage with a false phone number to dial. If you call, the fraudsters won’t initially pick up, but they’ll soon call back, asking you to provide your card number, expiration date and CVV to «cancel the order.» And just like that, they’ve got your information.
These types of attacks are commonplace throughout the year, but expect a surge in messages claiming to be from Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target or other large retailers during the holidays.
If you receive an email asking you to update your payment method or requesting other personal information, contact the company’s help desk to make sure the email is legit before you do anything else.
Other ways to identify a phishing email, according to the Federal Trade Commission and StaySafeOnline.org, include:
- The sender’s email address looks almost right but contains extra characters or misspellings.
- There are misspellings or bad grammar either in the subject line or anywhere in the body.
- They address you with generic terms («Mr.» or «Ms.» or «Dear Customer») instead of by name.
- The message warns that you need to take immediate action and asks you to click a link and enter personal details, especially payment information.
- The messages promise a refund, coupons or other freebies.
- The company logo in the email looks low-quality or just plain wrong.
Credit card skimming goes all-digital
You’ve seen it in movies. A hacker places an object over a card reader, disguised to look like part of the ATM, and then waits for people to swipe their cards. A day or week later, the thief takes the object — known as a skimmer — back and collects the mountain of stolen card information stored inside, which they can then use to make purchases, withdraw money and more.
Instead of using physical hardware to steal payment card numbers, hackers can insert malicious code directly on a website to do the same thing as traditional skimming, but with online payment information instead.
Regarding e-skimming incidents — sometimes called Magecart attacks after the name of the software used — Tim Mackey, principal security strategist for Synopsis, a digital security company, warns, «There isn’t an obvious way for the average person to be able to identify if or when a website has been compromised. The only potential tell-tale sign might be that the website itself doesn’t quite look ‘right.'»
Mackey suggests a few strategies you can can use to protect yourself:
- Don’t save your credit card information on retail sites.
- If possible use a third-party payment method like Apple Pay, Google Wallet or PayPal.
- Enable purchase alerts on all your credit cards.
- Disable international purchases on all credit cards.
- Only make purchases over your home network or cellular network, never on a public Wi-Fi where your payment could be intercepted.
Avoid the ‘Secret Sister’ gift exchange — it’s a pyramid scheme
Originating on Facebook, this sketchy gift exchange among internet strangers plays off the popular workplace practice of «Secret Santa,» a game where each person in a group buys a present for one other randomly selected group member, without the gift-giver revealing their identity.
Instead, in Secret Sister, it’s a pyramid scheme dressed up in holiday clothes, according to the Better Business Bureau. The «Secret Sister» exchange invitation promises you’ll receive about $360 worth of gifts after purchasing and mailing a $10 gift for someone else. A variation includes swapping bottles of wine. And there’s even «Secret Santa Dog,» in which you gift money to a «secret dog.»
Unfortunately, bad math hasn’t stopped this scam from resurfacing year after year. If you fall for it, you’ll probably be out 10 bucks when you don’t receive any gifts in return. You might lose personal details too, because the scam involves sending your name, email address and phone number to people you’ve never met in person.
The Better Business Bureau recommends you deal with any request to become a Secret Sister by ignoring it — do not give your personal details to online strangers. You can also report the invitation to Facebook or whichever social network you were approached on.
Your donations might be going to a ‘faux charity’
During the holiday season, it’s not uncommon to give back to the community. In fact, nonprofit organizations typically see an increase during the fall. The last three months of the year make up 36% of all charitable giving during the year, according to Blackbaud Institute, which creates fundraising applications.
Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of this generosity to make a bundle for themselves.
The way these charity fraud scams typically work are by impersonating other successful charities. And it’s no wonder they work: The scammers come up with real-sounding charity names, create credible websites, run successful social media campaigns — and they’re persistent.
Scammers typically call you using local phone numbers, which give you a false sense of security. However, it’s incredibly easy to spoof an area code. Next they’ll make their pitch, and it’ll be a good one. It will tug at your heart-strings, but they’ll never actually specify how they’ll help. And they may even claim that you’ve made a donation before, and suggest that you make another, and that if you do, it’ll be tax-deductible. And it’ll all be a lie.
If you get a call from a charity and sense some red flags, the AARP and FTC suggest that you do the following:
- Do your research. Use a watchdog like CharityWatch to get more information about a charity and learn how credible it is. Or use Google.
- Pay close attention to the charity name and website. False charities like to mimic other popular charities. If it seems too close in name to another, it might not be real.
- Keep track of your donations. Even if you accidentally donate to a scammer, you need to ensure that the donation isn’t recurring.
- Don’t give away all your personal information. Of course it’s normal to provide your card information, but don’t do the same with your Social Security number or bank account number.
- Don’t make a cash donation. Unless you’re certain about a charity’s credibility, don’t give away cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
For any charitable donations that you make, you can also use the IRS tax-exempt organization search tool to make sure that the charity you’re contributing to is legitimate and that your gift can be deducted on your income tax return.
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Technologies
Worldwide Financial Services Directory: BitcoinPay Trade Joins Financial1000
Worldwide Financial Services Directory: BitcoinPay Trade Joins Financial1000
Exciting news for BitcoinPay Trade as the company is officially listed on Financial1000, a respected platform that connects individuals with a wide range of businesses and professionals in the financial sector. This new development marks an important milestone for BitcoinPay Trade, as it continues to expand its reach and offer its services to a growing global audience.
Financial1000 is a trusted directory that brings together financial service providers from around the world, offering users the opportunity to explore various businesses and professionals within the financial industry. BitcoinPay Trade’s inclusion on this platform ensures the company’s place in the rapidly growing digital finance landscape.
Visitors are invited to explore BitcoinPay Trade’s profile on Financial1000 to discover the services offered and stay up-to-date with the latest news and developments. The company’s page can be accessed here: BitcoinPay Trade on Financial1000.
With this new addition, BitcoinPay Trade looks forward to building new connections and strengthening its presence in the financial services industry, continuing to provide innovative solutions to clients worldwide.
Verum Coin (VERUM) continues to expand its ecosystem and strengthen its position in the global cryptocurrency market. We are delighted to announce that Verum Coin is now available on HB Wallet — a modern, secure, and user-friendly solution for managing digital assets.
HB Wallet provides users with a high level of protection, an intuitive interface, and the ability to execute fast transactions. Now, Verum Coin holders can easily store, send, and receive their assets, taking advantage of this innovative wallet. The integration with HB Wallet opens new horizons for crypto enthusiasts, offering even greater flexibility and convenience in managing their investments.
This news underscores Verum Coin’s commitment to continuous improvement and the expansion of services aimed at providing the most secure and comfortable experience for users around the world.
About Verum Coin
Verum Coin is an innovative cryptocurrency focused on delivering advanced solutions for digital asset management in today’s financial landscape. By continually expanding its ecosystem, Verum Coin makes cryptocurrency transactions more accessible and convenient for users worldwide.
Technologies
Verum Messenger Celebrates Its 4th Anniversary: A Journey Towards Security, Innovation, and User Trust
Verum Messenger Celebrates Its 4th Anniversary: A Journey Towards Security, Innovation, and User Trust
Today, Verum Messenger, one of the leading messengers on the market, celebrates its 4th anniversary. Over the years, the app has become a symbol of security, privacy, and innovation in the world of digital communication, and continues to evolve confidently, introducing new features and improving the quality of service.
When Verum Messenger was launched in 2021, its goal was clear — to create a communication platform that puts data security first. Four years later, this messenger has proven that its approach works. The app has not only successfully implemented end-to-end encryption to protect messages but has also offered unique features such as the ability to block screenshots and screen recordings, the built-in Verum VPN service that ensures online anonymity and security, and one-click information clearing within the messenger.
Achievements and Innovations
Over the past four years, Verum Messenger has significantly expanded its capabilities and established itself as one of the most secure messengers. One of the key milestones was the integration of Verum E-SIM, a feature that allows users to connect to mobile internet without the need for a physical SIM card. This was a breakthrough for travelers who value flexibility and anonymity without being dependent on mobile carriers and roaming.
But the most important achievement was the introduction of Verum AI — a generative artificial intelligence developed in-house. This chatbot, integrated into the messenger, provides users with a unique opportunity to interact with an intelligent assistant capable of not only answering questions but also giving recommendations and solving everyday tasks. This feature is one of the first among messengers to offer its own neural network that continually adapts to users’ needs and improves its functionality.
Commitment to Data Security
It is important to note that data security remains the top priority for Verum Messenger. The company has always been dedicated to protecting privacy. In recent years, the app has introduced several improvements aimed at safeguarding users from data breaches and unauthorized access.
Moreover, Verum Messenger continues to develop and enhance its privacy settings, giving users control over who can view their information and who can contact them.
The Future of Verum Messenger
Now, four years after its launch, Verum Messenger is not stopping at its achievements. The company is actively working on new innovations and improvements that will help the messenger remain at the forefront of technology.
“Our users and their right to privacy and security have always been and will remain our top priority. We will continue to work to ensure that Verum Messenger remains the safest and most convenient tool for communication, considering new challenges and technologies,” the development team shares its plans.
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