ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Department of Homeland Security is warning people about online shopping scams this Cyber Monday.
The DHS said people's computers could be a cybersecurity minefield of scammers trying to obtain people's personal information.
Before people shop, the DHS said to check web addresses before clicking 'buy'.
If the web address is unusual or there is no contact information for the company, then those are both red flags.
This holiday shopping season, it’s your emails you should be checking twice.
Here’s how to protect yourself against scams over
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Black Friday and Cyber Monday provide the perfect environment for cybercriminals, cybersecurity experts say: They offer up distracted shoppers and ample opportunity. An estimated 164 million people are planning to shop between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday, and online sales alone are expected to reach up to $143 billion, according to Deloitte’s annual retail holiday sales forecast.
“As consumers rush from one store to the next, they’ll be distracted and hurriedly accessing email from their phones, looking for that last-minute deal from their favorite store or brand,” says Adrien Gendre, North American CEO of email security provider Vade Secure.
Because your guard may be down, you’ll be more susceptible to phishing attacks and spam emails, Gendre says. Plus, he says, consumers are actually pre-wired to expect too-good-to-be-true deals this time of year.
Overall, fraud losses this year from online shopping, airline tickets, money transfer and banking services are expected to hit $22 billion, according to a new report from Juniper Research.
What to look for when receiving holiday emails
Emails are a particularly common way for fraudsters to gain access to your credit card information or identity. Hackers sends what’s called a phishing email, in which they copy a store’s sale or discount email and include a link to a false portal asking for your info.
Sometimes it’s easy to tell which emails are fakes. Look closely for odd sender email addresses, typos, or language that feels off.
