Black Friday and Cyber Monday are here again, with their promise of great deals on products and services. But while you are online and trying to get an amazing discount, there are many scammers waiting for you the moment you click the Buy button. So how can you avoid the most common threats and stay safe while shopping this holiday season? Norton has been protecting people's data for many years and here are some of its helpful tips to avoid being scammed.
Common Scams
Fake advertisements on social media pose a growing threat. These appear in your feed with fantastic offers, accompanied by a time constraint: “Only available today!” » The ad may also pose as a popular site that you would normally shop on.
The idea is to encourage you to make a quick decision rather than considering the authenticity of the deal. Clicking on the ads usually takes you to fake versions of the sites that can harvest your account and payment information.
Scams have also been reported telling victims that they won a free Shein gift card. But when they fill out their details to pay for shipping, they sign up for ongoing subscriptions that take money out of the victim's account without them realizing it.
These sophisticated attacks don't just happen on social media: victims can also be targeted through emails or messages sent to them promoting fake deals.
How to protect yourself from online scams
Here are some simple tips that can help you avoid online scams.
Watch out for sensational offers
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of offers that seem incredibly generous.
Don't click on ads
Instead of clicking on an ad, try going directly to the company's website in your browser. This can help avoid fake ads pretending to be from a popular company.
Check the URL
Always check the URL (website address). Fake sites will often have similar but different spellings to the site they claim to be.
Use only secure payment methods
Make sure to only use secure online payment methods (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, etc.) rather than electronic transfers. If something goes wrong, secure methods will offer some form of protection.
Check reviews
Before making a purchase, try checking reviews of the seller online to see what other users have experienced.
Use dedicated software to ensure your security
It's difficult to stay constantly alert and attentive online. That's why, along with the tips above, we recommend using dedicated security software to do the heavy lifting for you. Norton 360 Deluxe is a great example because it covers up to five devices (PC, Mac, tablets or phones) and blocks fake sites so you can't get fooled by scammers. There's also malware and virus protection, as well as a VPN to keep all your online data encrypted when using public Wi-Fi networks. This is currently 75% off as part of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotion, so you can get your first year's subscription for just £19.99/$29.99.
Another option is Avast Premium Security, which covers up to 10 computers or mobile devices, has an email guard to prevent spam offers, warnings against potentially harmful messages, and website scans to make sure they are legitimate. Again, you can get a discount at the moment, with the price reduced to £54.99/$69.48 for the first year.
Hopefully, if you follow the tips above, you'll have a great holiday shopping experience, with no surprises under the tree.
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