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Aren’t the holidays grand?
Okay, perhaps it’s a mixed bag.
Credit card problem scam messages were delivered to well over a third of all Americans.
A similar number saw scam messages relating to theirAmazonshopping activity.
It’s a Black Friday holiday shopping jungle out there.
Start with a cleanup
Scammers target us year-round, with extra effort reserved for the holidays.
It’ll all make you less of a target during this holiday shopping season.
If you end up on a questionable site, check the URL.
Instead of “Amazon.com,” you might notice it’s “Amazon.eo.”
Also, take a look at the product photos on the site.
If they look low-quality, they might’ve been lifted from somewhere else.
Watch out for typos and misspellings, which are often a dead giveaway for fake sites.
If there’s no recognizable and secure way to pay, run away.
The possible gift won’t be delivered until you provide some additional information.
Sometimes, there are links to follow, and other times, there’s a phone number to call.
First of all, keep careful records of everything you order this holiday season.
If you receive one of these emails, check that order list.
Second, visit the original retailer and check your order status there.
That’ll give you an accurate status for the package.
And you know what else is on the rise?
Deepfake product and shopping recommendations.
In both cases, the scammers are using AI video and audio technology to create fake video pitches.
What’s worse is that some porch pirates are no longer just cruising neighborhoods looking for unattended packages.
There are a few ways to combat this.
One is to watch for delivery alerts on your phone or in email and act fast.
Finally, you could buy one of a growing crop ofPackage Delivery Boxes.
They’re essentially large lockboxes for packages with delivery lids and locked compartments underneath that collect the packages.
