As holiday shopping ramps up, experts warn of increasingly sophisticated scams targeting online shoppers, particularly on social media. Scammers often impersonate delivery services, demanding personal information like credit card details or Social Security numbers to ensure package delivery. They may also pressure buyers to use third-party payment platforms for person-to-person sales, making refunds difficult. However, some social media platforms are rolling out tools to help users detect suspicious activity and avoid becoming victims.
As holiday shoppers search for their final gifts this week, experts are urging people to be careful not to fall victim to increasingly sophisticated and deceitful scams, especially on social media.
“A lot of times they’ll get your credit card information, your address, people sometimes even give away their Social Security information because the attacker pretends to be the U.S. Postal Service and says they need that information to get your package to you. The attackers really try to employ a sense of urgency or fear that you’re not gonna get what you need during this holiday season at the time that you really need it," Tobac said.
The good news is, that some social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp have rolled out tools to help users identify suspicious behavior. On Instagram, if a "potentially scammy" requests to follow a user, they'll get a notification from the platform to be cautious of suspicious interactions. On WhatsApp, if a user gets a message from a stranger or is added to a group by someone they don't know, they will now see a context card giving them more information about that person or group.
HOLIDAYS SCAM SOCIAL MEDIA ONLINE SHOPPING CYBERSECURITY
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