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Deals and Discounts
Particularly during holiday seasons, distinguishing genuine sales from deceptive ones can pose a challenge. The most effective approach is to rely on deals and discounts provided by trustworthy companies. Authentic deals are typically announced on the official website of the company.
Returns and Refunds
Before making a purchase, it’s essential to review the store or item’s return and refund policy.
A red flag indicating a potential scam is when a website either lacks a returns/refunds policy or fails to clearly outline these terms anywhere on their platform.
Holiday Shopping Tips
As the holiday season neared, Ed made plans to join family and friends for dinner. On the day of the gathering, he drove to the restaurant and parked his car in a nearby lot. While walking toward the pay station, he noticed a QR code labeled “Scan & Park” on its side. Evaluating the machine, he observed its dated appearance with some missing buttons. Opting for convenience, he chose to scan the QR code to pay for parking digitally.
After entering his card information, email, and phone number, Ed awaited a confirmation message.
Anyone can generate QR codes, and stickers containing them can be affixed in public places. Refrain from scanning random QR codes without confirming their source beforehand.
Exercise caution when encountering QR codes placed haphazardly on pay stations, particularly if they lack any information regarding the associated website or company.
Some cybercriminals stick their harmful QR codes on top of genuine ones. Even if the sticker appears to be from a reputable company, carefully inspect it for any indications of alteration or tampering.
This month's topics
3 Social Media Threats
Phishy Buyers
E-commerce platforms and social networks offer convenient ways to engage with potential buyers interested in your used goods. However, it’s essential to remain cautious as scammers may not just pretend to be sellers. Stay alert for buyers who:
Bait-and-switch Posts
Scammers are creating compelling posts concerning missing children or injured animals, urging individuals to share them for wider dissemination. Once shared, the scammer alters the content, replacing it with a link to a survey promising cash rewards or a fraudulent advertisement for a rental property. Since the repost remains visible on the user’s profile, it might mislead many online friends into thinking it’s an endorsement. Interacting with these deceptive ads often leads to malware or identity theft. To prevent involvement in such scams, it’s advisable to investigate the original poster, conduct a reverse image search, and verify if the purported news has been corroborated by other credible sources before reposting.
Fake Employee Discounts
Fraudsters are using social media to pose as former employees of a store. They assert they aim to “seek revenge” on their past employer by extending their employee discount to followers. They allege that this discount allows users to obtain items for free, only needing to cover shipping costs. However, once an order is made, the website vanishes, or they decline refunds. Consequently, users are either left without the item they ordered or receive a low-quality counterfeit. If a post appears suspicious or deceitful, it’s crucial to report it promptly to the respective social media platform.