Protection Against New Year Internet Scams

It is easy to fall into the trap of internet scams, and with the holiday season in full swing, scammers will take this opportunity and use it to their advantage. Stay alert and keep your privacy protected.

Common scams in the New Year include e-cards, online shopping, and parcel delivery notifications.

Nefarious e-cards will often contain viruses and malware that embeds in your device, stealing valuable data such as personal information and financial/banking details.

When someone has their personal information compromised, scammers can hack into their social media accounts and access bank accounts.

Exercise caution when opening an e-card from someone you know, as their account could have been compromised without their knowledge. NEVER click on links or attachments, or open unsolicited emails.

It is encouraged to keep your devices updated with the latest anti-virus and anti-spyware software for the highest level of security.

Shopping scams are commonly implemented by cyber criminals. Scammers often try to take advantage of people shopping for after-Christmas sales, by creating fake websites to advertise goods and services which are poor quality, or goods that will never be delivered in the first place.

Once you make a ‘purchase’ on the website, the scammers will use your personal information and card details you enter which can then be used to steal money or commit identity theft.

When shopping online, always use a secure payment method such as PayPal or credit card, never transfer money via your bank account. Double-check the URL address and only use sites with a green secure padlock in the address bar.

Advertisements often appear on Facebook with images of well-known products at much cheaper prices than usual, luring customers to go to their site. Scammers will say something like ‘unwanted Christmas gift’ to make it appear genuine.

Parcel delivery scams are a regular occurrence throughout the year, but target people more regularly before and after Christmas. Scammers take advantage of this by sending out phishing emails or text messages advising a parcel is ready for collection.

Correspondence will include a link or attachment, which people unknowingly click on, oftentimes leaving you locked out of your computer, or providing hackers with personal information and banking details.

Make sure you always check the sender’s email address, if it doesn’t have a legitimate domain name, delete it immediately. Most scam messages often have spelling or grammatical mistakes.

If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank, change your PINs and passwords, and report the scam via the Australian Cyber Security Centre.