On the first day of Christmas the scammers gave to me…A shady letter from Santa!
Parents eager to see their child’s reaction to a letter from Santa can easily fall for this scam that uses sentimentality to gain sensitive information. Use a well-known campaign like the U.S. Post Office.
On the second day of Christmas the scammers gave to me…two phony pop-ups!
Pop-up windows that promise unrealistic prices or special coupons are scams. Before clicking, contact the retailer to verify the offer.
On the third day of Christmas the scammers gave to me…three hacked chargers!
Charging stations in public places are prime targets for criminals. Avoid public charging stations except in an emergency.
On the fourth day of Christmas the scammers gave to me…four phony charities!
Charities asking for donations are abundant during the holidays as needs grow with the season. Phony charities are also prevalent so only donate to those you know and trust.
On the fifth day of Christmas the scammers gave to me…FIVE FREE GIFT CARDS!
Websites that ask you to pay with a gift card are scams. Use a retailer’s gift card on their website only. Don’t pay for online purchases with general gift cards.
On the sixth day of Christmas the scammers gave to me…six bogus websites!
Be wary of purchasing something from an unfamiliar website. Make sure there’s a padlock next to the URL and it begins with “https”.
On the seventh day of Christmas the scammers gave to me…seven counterfeit shippers!
Fake shipping notifications are aimed at gaining access to personal information. Use the vendor’s website to verify status of your order.
On the eighth day of Christmas the scammers gave to me…eight evil e-cards!
Holiday e-cards from a friend are nice, but if you don’t know the sender, don’t open them. To avoid malware, confirm with the sender first or delete them immediately.
On the ninth day of Christmas the scammers gave to me…nine toys pretending!
Parents desperate to find a popular toy can fall victim to holiday knockoffs. Social media and phony websites offer fake toys throughout the season, so proceed with caution.
On the tenth day of Christmas the scammers gave to me…10 passing postings!
Seasonal job postings are prevalent during the holidays. Before agreeing to work somewhere, research the company and call to verify that they are hiring.
On the eleventh day of Christmas the scammers gave to me…11 apps a-scamming!
Apps for talking to Santa, tracking his location, or sending holiday gifts can be scams for gaining access to private information. Check reviews for apps and review their privacy policies.
On the twelfth day of Christmas the scammers gave to me…12 mock social media!
Tis the season for social media scams. The holidays are hectic and social media scammers are counting on consumers being distracted. Always look into the profiles of websites where you do business.
For more information, visit www.fkc.bank/security.
