The FBI recently outlined some things online shoppers need to be wary of to avoid falling victim to holiday scammers.
This includes the warning that one must remain wary of deals that are too good to be true, such as those found in e-mails, websites, posts on social media, and ads on social media platforms.
The FBI also warned those who buy a new pet to make sure they have a video chat with the pet owner to see the pet, ensuring they are not tricked into buying a non-existent pet.
The FBI advises consumers to make purchases on HTTPS websites and to be wary of online registers that use a free e-mail account instead of an address with the company’s domain.
Consumers are advised to use only credit cards designed for online purchases in transactions.
They are also expected to check bank statements and ensure that they do not store payment information in online accounts. Public Wi-Fi is discouraged for online purchases.
Consumers should also check the authenticity of online sellers by reviewing reviews and checking the Better Business Bureau for legitimacy. FBI advises consumers to pay attention to the strategies that cyber criminals use to defraud individuals, including spear phishing email campaigns aimed at circumventing two-factor authentication.
For more information read the original story in ZDNet.
