Tis the season to be…..scammed? Tips to keep you and your family safe this Christmas

No I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to go “Tis the season to be jolly!”  But, unfortunately it’s also the season for clever “cybercriminals” to strike, and the best part is they save their greatest and most creative schemes for this time of year, taking full advantage of people’s good nature and turning a time of giving into a time of taking.  And what do they take? Your money, credit card information, identity and banking information just for starters.
 
It’s important to be a little more cautious while surfing the net for that perfect pressie for your loved ones this Christmas. So in the spirit of the season, I’d like to share with you some tips to avoid the most popular scams at Christmas time – I’ve taken these from McAfee’s twelve scams of Christmas report.
 
Scam 1:  Charity phishing scams – Be careful who you give to 
During the festive season, hackers take advantage of our generosity by sending e-mails that appear to be from legitimate charitable organisations. In reality, they are fake web sites designed to steal donations, credit card information and identities. If you intend to donate to a charity, always type in the charities web address or use a search engine – do not follow links emailed to you.
 
Scam 2:  Fake invoices from delivery services
Cybercriminals often send fake invoices and delivery notifications (continue reading...)