SALE! SALE! SALE!
We see a sale and we love it - how can we not? It’s in our nature. However, what’s the cost? No… we’re not talking about the monetary amount, but rather the cyber risk involved in Black Friday and festive season scams.
Black Friday marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season, a period that sees consumers spend more on shopping than any other time of the year. With the adoption of Cyber Monday and the general preference for online shopping, more and more people are finding their deals online, and in the challenging economic climate, consumers are bargain-hunting and even more desperate for “too good to be true” price tags.
With the seasonal shopping period right around the corner, credit card shopping will take a boost - and so will cyber criminals' attempts to access cardholder data. Though there is no way to 100% ensure that you will not fall victim to credit card fraud, there certainly are measures you can adopt to minimise your risk. Let’s look at ten simple ways you can avoid credit card fraud this Black Friday and festive season.
Click on each of the below to learn more:
Don’t buy from unfamiliar websites
We all love online shopping, but one has to be very careful when entering your credit card information on a website. Always buy from trustworthy sources and avoid conducting transactions on unfamiliar websites. Do not buy if a website does not offer a recognised payment gateway like PayPal or Stripe. Furthermore, be wary of risks that can potentially arise as a result of using online payment services that need your credit card details. If the service gets hacked or has its website accessed by a malicious user, it can also put your data at stake. To prevent this, verify that the website has a lock sign shown in the browser and has an address starting with HTTPS instead of HTTP, which means that the website is using a secure protocol.
Regularly check your bank statement and credit history
Keep your system updated and secure
Do not throw your documents in the bin
Never give credit card credentials over the phone
Use a secure network when shopping online
Always keep your card safe with you
Be vigilant when opening a new retail credit account
Be wary of skimming devices
Report your lost or stolen card immediately
The best way to protect yourself while you make purchases this holiday season is to be vigilant. Don’t trust something if it seems too good to be true. At the same time, don’t let this fraud threat stop you from enjoying this time. Act smart, do your best to keep your personal information safe, and have a Merry Christmas!
GoldPhish educates end-users on the cyber threat and helps build more secure organisations with awareness training and phishing simulation Get in touch for more information: info@goldphish.com
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