Internet shoppers should be on the lookout for frauds, especially as the holiday season draws near, said cybersecurity experts.
Holiday Shopping Schemes
According to Scamwatch, a website managed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Australians have reported losing over $14.8m to online shopping scams so far this year. Experts in cybersecurity are worried that the number may rise significantly as Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach, as per an article by news.com.au.
"Cyber criminals and scammers are always adjusting their techniques to take advantage of current affairs," said Mark Anderson, Microsoft ANZ's national security official.
The security expert cautioned that new scams might emerge over the holiday season, even though recent legislation implemented by the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) has banned more than 48 million SMS frauds since July.
Anderson warned that scammers prey on people's desire to save money, saying, "Scammers know we are all looking for those really good deals - especially when, for a lot of Australians, times are economically tough."
Amazon Impersonation Scam
According to News.com.au, ACMA's research indicated that Amazon impersonation fraud, in which con artists pretend to work for Amazon to steal personal information, has been the most common scam during the previous three months.
Anderson cautioned that the scheme might become very popular throughout the holiday shopping season.
Scammers that create convincing fake adverts or websites and pretend to be actual online businesses are responsible for another kind of prevalent online shopping fraud.
Microsoft's chief security officer gave tips on how to avoid hacking and scams when shopping online.
Online Shopping Tips
Anderson warns about clicking unanticipated, sketchy links in emails and texts. These might lead consumers to fraudulent, legitimate-looking websites.
These fake sites will take money or credentials, he claimed. Instead of clicking on a link, visit the sender's website.
It's essential to set up multi-factor identification. The security expert recommends using a two-factor or multi-factor identification method to secure personal data.
Anderson clarified that it is best to know your login and password, but you can also get an SMS or log into an app to make sure it is really you.
"Microsoft has found that this stops 98% of password-based attacks in their tracks."
Use different passwords. Using the same passwords for all your accounts makes it easy for fraudsters to access your data. A password manager to store usernames and passwords may help.
Keep your devices up to date. Updated phones, laptops, and tablets will enable the newest security improvements to thwart fraudsters.
Moreover, pay attention to red flags. Anderson mentioned that if a text or email seems too good to be true, it often is.
The same logic applies to internet deals that might cost the victims more. He recommends investigating the seller before buying, especially if the goods are inexpensive.
Lastly, use secure payment methods only. Scamwatch advises online consumers to utilize credit cards or PayPal.
According to the agency, scammers urge victims to pay using a money card, money order, or wire transfer to prevent discovery and make it difficult to retrieve the stolen money.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Trisha Kae Andrada
