Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and goodwill – but unfortunately cybercriminals don’t care. In fact, many will use Christmas as a way to target even more victims. Here are seven scams you should look out for this festive season:

  1. Phishing emails

Phishing emails are an incredibly effective way to to trick unsuspecting people into downloading malware or giving away their sensitive personal emails. You can learn more about how to spot a phishing email here.

  1. IT support scams

This scam works by trying to frighten you into giving control of your computer – and personal data – to a scammer. The scammer will tell you your computer has been infected and that they are going to help fix the problem by downloading a support application. And that’s when the trouble really begins. Learn more here.

  1. The Amazon phone scam

The phone rings and you hear a recorded message from the Amazon fraud department about an expensive item that has just been ordered on your account. If you don’t recognise the transaction, press 1 to report a problem. You will then be put through to an agent who will ask for your bank details so they can make a refund – but in reality they will use those details to empty your bank account. Learn more about beating phone scams here.

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  1. Fake websites

Scammers create thousandsof fake websites every year. They look very similar to well known ecommerce stores – but none of the products exist. The scammers just want your credit card details. Learn more about fake websites here.

  1. eCard malware

Quicker, easier and more eco-friendly than paper, eCards are an increasingly popular way to send seasons greetings to friends and family. But scammers will send fake emails asking you to click the link to open your ecard – and to download a malware installer.

  1. Covid-19 scams

Received a call or email identifying you as having come into contact with a positive Covid case? Normally you may be asked for your name and address. But if you are asked for financial details, or to make a payment of some kind, you are probably dealing with a scammer.

  1. HMRC tax return scams

Definitely not festive, but the tax man is already sending people reminders to file their tax returns. Scammers will send official-looking messages to try and trick victims into handing over financial data or making a “tax payment” – that they steal.

Hopefully these tips will help you avoid being a victim of crime this Christmas – but you can further improve your protection with Panda Dome anti-malware. Download your free trial today.