Technologies

Attention Last-Minute Holiday Shoppers: Scammers Are Coming for You

Experts say procrastinators need to be wary of last-minute Christmas-shopping deals.

Better ho, ho hold up before jumping on that seemingly great deal on that must-have holiday gift. Scammers are looking to take advantage of procrastinators still trying to finish their Christmas shopping.

With Christmas just days away, experts say last-minute shoppers need to be especially wary of deals that look too good to be true, because they most likely are. Cybercriminal attempts to steal the money and personal information of consumers have spiked in recent weeks and aren’t going to stop anytime soon.

What’s more, as gift giving draws closer, increasingly desperate shoppers will be more apt to click on links they shouldn’t and shop at sites that they otherwise might think are a little questionable.

Shoppers need to be aware that they’re being targeted with an epic amount of phishing and other kinds of online scams right now, said Kurt Baumgartner, a principal security researcher for the cybersecurity company Kaspersky.

«For the crooks that are behind this stuff, It’s a numbers game and they’re willing to put a lot more behind these efforts,» Baumgartner said.

The volume of Christmas-themed spam has increased consistently since Nov. 27, with big spikes in the emails spotted between Dec. 6 and Dec 9, according to researchers at the cybersecurity company Bitdefender.

The emails covered the usual holiday topics, including product giveaways, fake surveys and discounts on designer goods, along with non-shopping related offers geared toward the lonely including online-dating pitches and access to premium adult content.

Scammers impersonated brands such as Dollar General, Netflix and Lowes, hoping to entice consumers to hand over their personal or financial information in exchange for bogus gift cards, Bitdefender said.

In addition to seemingly never-ending streams of phishing emails, scammers are also reaching consumers through text messages, a practice known as «smishing,» as well as ads posted on social media. Those kinds of attacks have a better chance of getting past typical consumer antivirus software, which screens emails for phishing and spam.

The attacks themselves aren’t a new invention. Phishing in all of its forms is a year-round plague. What’s different during the holidays is that people are in a rush and less apt to think before they click, Baumgartner said.

About 12% of Americans polled for a Kaspersky study done before the start of the holiday season said they planned to do the bulk of their shopping during the last nine days before Christmas.

Of those expected last-minute shoppers, 40% admitted they’d be willing to shop on a site that struck them as sketchy, if the offer was enticing enough.

Baumgartner said that given the potential risks, those numbers are «alarming.» That said, there are some easy ways for last-minute shoppers to protect themselves.

Here are some tips from Baumgartner and others for warding off the cyber Crampus as you finish your holiday shopping.

Tips for safe last-minute online shopping

If a deal looks too good to be true … Yep, it probably is. Stop and think. Ask yourself if the deal you’re considering would look realistic in January, after the Christmas rush has passed.

Use good AV and a password manager. Security software will screen out a lot of unsolicited email and help protect you from known malware if you accidentally download it. A password manager won’t autofill your critical usernames and passwords if it thinks you’re on a site that they’re not intended for.

Always use a credit rather than debit card. If you get scammed, credit card companies are usually great about making you whole,ASAP. And it’s a lot less traumatizing to deal with that rather than an empty bank account.

Don’t buy gift cards online. When it gets down to crunch time, gift cards are better than nothing, but resist the temptation to buy one online from a third-party site. Instead, head to a brick and mortar retailer like a drug store. When you pick out your card, make sure it hasn’t been tampered with.

Technologies

Verum Messenger: Data Protection at Its Finest

Verum Messenger positions itself as a tool for those who value privacy and security above all.

Verum Messenger stands out from other messengers thanks to its approach to security, anonymity, and innovations in communication.

Here are some key aspects that highlight its uniqueness:

Default encryption: Verum Messenger uses end-to-end (E2E) encryption for all chats, meaning messages are encrypted on the sender’s device and decrypted only on the recipient’s device. This makes it impossible for third parties, including app developers, to access the content of the messages.
Anonymity: When registering with Verum, there’s no need to provide a phone number or email. Users simply choose a nickname and password, significantly enhancing their level of anonymity. This contrasts with many other messengers, where anonymity can be compromised through linked personal data.
Built-in VPN: An additional layer of protection that hides the user’s IP address, making their location and internet activity less trackable.
Data control: Users can set messages to be automatically deleted after a specified time, ranging from a few seconds to a week. There’s also a quick deletion feature for all chats, calls, and even contacts, which is useful for maintaining privacy.
Large groups: The ability to create chat rooms with up to 10,000 participants makes Verum attractive for organizing large events, discussions, or communities while maintaining a high level of security.
Security innovations: Verum actively develops technologies aimed at protecting user data, as seen in their documentation and discussions online. This includes not only technical solutions but also approaches to data minimization, which reduces the risk of leaks.
Feedback and discussions: On platform X (formerly Twitter), discussions can be found where users and experts praise Verum for its approach to anonymity and security, although questions are raised about how much anonymity can truly be guaranteed in an age of modern tracking and de-anonymization technologies.

Verum Messenger positions itself as a tool for those who value privacy and security above all. Its innovations in encryption, anonymity, and data control make it an intriguing choice for those seeking alternatives to traditional messaging platforms. However, as with any technology, it’s important to remember that absolute anonymity on the internet remains a complex challenge, and users should be aware of potential risks and limitations.

Technologies

Verum Coin Debuts on XT Exchange, Broadening its Reach in the DeFi Space

A Strategic Listing Enhancing Verum Coin’s Visibility

In a significant development for the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, Verum Coin (VERUM) has been officially listed on XT Exchange. The new trading pair, VERUM/USDT, is now available in the exchange’s Innovative Zone, marking a pivotal expansion for this digital asset into the DeFi ecosystem.

A Strategic Listing Enhancing Verum Coin’s Visibility

The addition of Verum Coin to the XT Exchange is seen as a strategic move to enhance the accessibility and liquidity of VERUM among traders who are keen on exploring innovative digital assets. XT Exchange, known for its robust platform supporting a wide variety of cryptocurrencies, provides an ideal environment for fostering growth and ensuring the broad reach of new tokens.

Albin Varin, CEO of XT Exchange, expressed enthusiasm about the new listing, stating, «We are delighted to welcome Verum Coin to our platform. This listing reflects our ongoing commitment to providing our users access to innovative digital assets that transform the landscape of global finance.» This comments underscore the exchange’s focus on integrating cutting-edge technologies and financial instruments that have the potential to redefine the market.

About XT

Founded in 2018, XT Exchange serves more than 7.8M registered users, over 1M monthly active users, 40+ million users in the ecosystem, and more than 800 tokens with 1000+ trading pairs. XT crypto exchange offers a rich variety of trading categories to provide a secure, trusted, and intuitive trading experience for its large user base. This includes crypto futures trading (USDT-M Futures and coin-M futures perpetual contracts) and copy trading that allows users to replicate top traders in real time with just one click. Additionally, the futures grid allows users to automate the buying and selling of futures contracts for profits.

Future Prospects

With its new position on XT Exchange, Verum Coin is expected to attract a broader audience, enhancing its trading volume and market presence. This could potentially lead to increased stability and recognition as a viable player in the DeFi space. For investors and users of XT Exchange, this addition provides a fresh avenue to diversify portfolios with a cryptocurrency that is positioned at the intersection of innovation and financial evolution.

The listing of Verum Coin on XT Exchange not only highlights the ongoing expansion of cryptocurrency markets into new areas like DeFi but also illustrates a growing recognition of digital assets that offer promising technological advancements and financial opportunities. As the crypto market continues to evolve, partnerships like these are pivotal for fostering growth and offering users access to the next generation of financial tools.

Technologies

Verum Coin Gains International Spotlight with AP Coverage and Listing on XT Exchange

This listing on XT is expected to further propel Verum Coin into the spotlight

In a noteworthy development for the cryptocurrency community, Verum Coin (VERUM) has been featured in an Associated Press article, highlighting its upcoming listing on the XT Exchange. This significant media coverage underscores the growing interest and potential of Verum Coin in the global financial landscape.

The AP article delves into the details of Verum Coin’s innovative features and its alignment with the latest trends in the cryptocurrency market. This attention comes at an opportune moment as Verum Coin prepares for its new listing on XT Exchange, a platform renowned for its extensive user base and a wide array of trading options.

This listing on XT is expected to further propel Verum Coin into the spotlight, providing both traders and investors with new opportunities to engage with this emerging digital asset. The exchange’s robust infrastructure and diverse trading offerings are ideal for supporting Verum Coin’s growth and enhancing its visibility in the competitive cryptocurrency market.

For more details, you can read the full article on the AP website here.

This milestone is a testament to Verum Coin’s advancing presence in the crypto world and its ongoing efforts to be at the forefront of digital currency innovation and adoption.