How to avoid online shopping scams? It is important to remember that not all online retailers are trustworthy. Fraudsters, particularly those who take advantage of sales, may not provide a high level of security. Even credit cards offer increased security, but they are not always foolproof. Some sites use public Wi-Fi that may not be safe. To avoid this, follow these tips:
Phishing is one of the most common types of cyberattacks
A recent report from the FBI reveals that cybercriminals cost businesses and consumers a combined $3.5 billion in 2019. The vast majority of these attacks are phishing, which involves fake websites and emails that look like the official sites of companies and organizations. These websites are designed to deceive their victims into entering their credit card details or other personal information.
Another common form of phishing attacks is smishing, which occurs via text messaging. This form of attack uses similar tactics, except that the sender calls the victim instead of sending the email. The message may look legitimate, but when a victim clicks on it, the message installs malware onto the victim’s computer and steals personal information. Voice phishing, on the other hand, involves cybercriminals calling the victim and asking them for their credit card information, such as to download a free anti-virus software. This will download malware onto the victim’s computer, and the attacker will use the information to make further purchases.
Phishing attacks involve counterfeit communications that appear to come from a legitimate source. They can steal personal information and access online accounts. Phishing attacks can compromise point of sale terminals, order processing systems, and even entire computer networks. Some scams may even require users to pay a ransom fee to unlock the system. In many cases, victims are never notified until the phishing attack has occurred.
Public Wi-Fi isn’t always foolproof
You should avoid using public Wi-Fi on the internet when you are in a public area and be extra vigilant about your security. Secured websites will have a key or padlock icon to indicate security. Besides, public Wi-Fi can sometimes be unreliable, which makes it less secure than the Internet. You should only use it to browse the internet on unsecured sites. Otherwise, you risk being ripped off.
Free Wi-Fi is generally insecure. Hackers are notorious for taking advantage of weak connections and can pose as legitimate access points by setting up fake Wi-Fi hotspots. They can even pose as StarbucksWi-Fi-FREE to lure you into entering your personal information. It’s better to use a private Wi-Fi connection, or use a VPN, to protect your personal information on the internet.
Credit cards provide increased security
There are several ways to ensure more security when using a credit card while shopping online. One way is to make every purchase use the same card. Then, you can keep track of any unusual charges or activity with one convenient card. Moreover, some banks offer special cards designed for online use. Some of them even offer alerts for any suspicious purchases. If you don’t like sharing your personal information, check out guest checkouts instead of creating an account with each online merchant.
Most credit cards have holographs or security features that help ensure your identity is authentic. These are unique to your card network and allow issuers to flag unusual purchases and verify their authenticity. Some cards let you add your photo for increased security, but this is not as secure as the holographs on photo cards. Lastly, some cards have temporary purchase numbers, which are one-time-use codes that can only be used to make purchases online.
While using a credit card is safe in general, it can still be vulnerable to scammers, who can use malware to steal your personal information. Make sure you use your credit card on trusted websites and always use your home network. If your card has been stolen or lost, contact the issuing bank immediately and report any suspicious activity. You can also contact the Central Bank to report your lost or stolen card. If you have lost your card, don’t forget to report it to the bank and request a new one.