In the News
The holiday season is synonymous with the shopping season, but tangled amidst the flurry of deals and new products are security risks and preventable dangers. In BBB Warning: Avoid These Holiday Scams, the Better Business Bureau discusses the increased reality of online scams and ways to avoid such scams.
Our Take
Jokes about ramen noodles aside, we know that university students are always on the lookout for good deals around this time of year. Though many deals and notifications are legit, be wary of unexpected communications. Some common phishing attempts include:
- Links to look-alike banking, e-commerce, or package delivery websites
- Odd payment requests
- Bogus shipping notifications with invoices or other attachments (we know you’re looking forward to presents, but believe us, this isn’t the type of delivery you had in mind)
- Scam e-cards
- Requests for emergency money from a traveling relative
Both phishing emails and pop-ups vary from terrible and obvious to quite well-constructed and very timely. The best way to avoid becoming a victim to these scams is to know the warning signs.
Recommendations
- Be careful about clicking on or browsing unknown websites: use Google to find a webpage mentioned in an email, instead of the trusting the e-mail to link you to the right place
- Be wary of messages you aren’t expecting, especially if they threaten you or promise you something intriguing and short-lived (shipping notifications, limited time offers, etc.)
- Make sure the web addresses of sites you browse contain http(s) to ensure secure browsing