Did you make a list and check it twice, only to forget about Aunt Tabitha? Then, it’s time to cash in on those last-minute online holiday deals.
While shopping online offers many benefits like ease of shipping and instant access to a massive number of options and products, there are several drawbacks if you don’t know how to stay safe while holiday shopping online.
What to Look Out for While shopping online
Phishing emails, fake websites, false advertising, and fraudulent payment terminals are a few of the things online shoppers need to be wary of this holiday season. With an increase in the use of AI, consumers need to be more vigilant than ever in spotting scams. Below are a few things to look out for to help ensure a safe online holiday shopping experience.
Phishing Emails
Online shopping spikes throughout the year in correlation to Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and the holiday season, and boy, does it show in your inbox. Along with promotions from your beloved online retailers, there may be a few not so nice emails lurking in your inbox.
Scammers take major online shopping days as an opportunity to infiltrate your inbox with deceptive messages disguised as legitimate retailers. Gone are the days where a phishing email was easily recognizable, as AI and other large language learning models are making it easy for scammers to craft believable messages that trap unknowing shoppers.
Declined Payment Emails
Among these deceptive emails, declined payment messages are a common phishing scheme targeted at customers who shop at big online retailers such as Amazon. If you ever encounter a declined payment email, do not click on the link provided in the email. Always check your receipts first to make sure you ordered a product from the company. Then always go to the retailer’s official site, sign into your account, and check on your payment status there. Clicking on the link provided in the scam email will entice you to input your online payment information, which will give scammers access to your credit or debit card information and any personal banking details.
Scam Emails for Free Content
Are you a sucker for free content? Then beware. Free content offers are a trending scam targeted to gamers and people who purchase downloadable content. Scammers target gamers on Free2Play platforms and send offers for free content that would usually be purchased. Don’t fall for it, it’s a trap to once again, to gain access to your payment information.
Fake Websites
It’s great to support small businesses but be extra careful when shopping from a website that is newly launched. Fake websites are easy to set up, especially with the help of AI, and scammers are leveraging them to steal payment details from unknowing consumers.
Here are a few ways to determine if a website is reputable:
- Check the website’s WHOIS details.
- Find out if the website is operating as a registered business. This information can usually be found through a business registry.
- Check the URL. If the URL has a lock displayed in the address bar and begins with a “https://”, it’s a secure website, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a legitimate business.
If you are looking to support a small business this holiday season, ask your friends and family which online small businesses they buy from, like, and support. This can help in making smarter decisions while holiday shopping online.
Fake Advertising
Some online shoppers take all the precautions, but still end up getting a bad experience. They either don’t get sent the correct products, which in some cases can just be because of a holiday mix-up, or the products they ordered aren’t as advertised. Scammers leverage fake product reviews and don’t deliver on the quality promised.
Some shoppers pay for a product, and it never gets delivered. Again, in this case it could be a delay due to the holiday season, but if unresolved, it could be the by-product of a scam.
Fraudulent Payment Terminals
You only have so much control over being careful while shopping online, stores also have a responsibility to keep their systems updated and safe. Retailers use POS systems to integrate online and in-person sales. Unfortunately, if not properly maintained, these systems can be hacked by scammers to steal payment information.
According to an article by Business Dasher, 22% of all retail cybersecurity risks are due to malware from of point-of-sale vulnerabilities and outdated software.
Remember to check the retailer’s URL for security, and never put your bank account details into the payment fields. It can also be safer to pay with a credit card and keep an eye on your statements for any fraudulent activity.
Tips for staying safe while shopping online
Staying safe while shopping online is about awareness and due diligence. Keeping an eye out for scams is just one part of the equation. A few other things to help include:
- Using a secure VPN - Ensuring that website payment systems are secure (check for “HTTPS”)
- Use strong passwords to protect your account information
- Beware of Phishing Emails - Update Software - Check the online retailer’s Privacy and Return Policies
Alternative Shopping
An alternative to shopping online and one way to do some good with your holiday shopping this year is to shop at a local brick-and-mortar store. With online shopping rising every day, buying from a brick-and-mortar store, makes that business owner’s day, even better if it’s locally owned.
This article isn’t meant to scare you away from shopping online but meant to empower you to shop smarter. Remember to shop on reputable sites, check the business legitimise, beware of too good to be true offers, declined payment emails, other phishing tactics, and have a wonderful holiday shopping season.
