24.12.2024 - The song "All I want for Christmas is you" is almost impossible to avoid during the festive season. Avoiding phishing and other scams can be just as difficult, as scammers try to trick you in a variety of ways. For them, "All I want for Christmas is your Money" is the motto at this time of year.
Careful when buying gifts online – increasing number of reports of dodgy shops before Christmas
The festive season is a profitable time for online retailers. Sales increase significantly as many people like to order presents from the comfort of their homes. Unfortunately, there are also unscrupulous people who take advantage of the fact that everyone is shopping for Christmas. They set up fake online shops to get money or sensitive information such as your credit card details. So make sure you only buy from trustworthy sites that you’ve had good experiences with, or that you’ve checked out on several review sites.
The publishing information of an online shop can also be an important indicator of its trustworthiness. For example, many dubious sites offer a contact form as the only way to communicate with them. You should also find out about the shop’s return policy and whether the shop will pay for return shipping or whether you have to pay for it yourself. It’s a common scam for dodgy shops to send you an item that is of poor quality or not what you ordered. If you want to return it, you have to pay for the return postage, often to a distant country – and that can easily cost more than the item itself.
- Only shop at online stores that you trust;
- If you want to shop at a store you’re unfamiliar with, check their customer reviews on independent websites;
- Check that the store owner has provided credible publishing information. It should include the company’s headquarters, contact details and ideally its commercial register number. A lot of dubious sites only offer a contact form;
- Check the store’s return policy, whether you have to pay for shipping, etc.;
- If there is anything that looks even a little bit suspicious, don’t buy from them.
Even after Christmas, scammers are lurking. For example, if you don’t like a gift you’ve received, you may want to return it or sell it on a classified ads site – both of which put you at risk of phishing scams.
"Something has gone wrong with the delivery of your package"
Although many people are aware of parcel scams, they are more likely to fall for them during the holidays. A common parcel scam involves fraudsters sending mass text messages saying there has been a problem with the shipment or delivery of a package and demanding an additional fee. The scammers’ aim is to get you to enter your credit card details on what turns out to be a phishing website. With more parcels being sent out in the days leading up to Christmas, there is a good chance that you’re actually expecting a parcel when you’re targeted by this scam. This makes you more likely to fall for it.
- Ignore package notifications that say you need to pay a fee;
- If you’re expecting a parcel and are unsure whether a message is a scam or not, contact the delivery service directly
When you lose money on a sale
Selling an unwanted gift on a classified ads website can also be dangerous. Classified ads offer a wide range of opportunities for scammers. Classic examples include selling items that do not exist or refusing to pay for items that have already been shipped.
There is another a type of scam that explicitly targets sellers: scammers pretend to be interested in a product and ask the seller to use a particular parcel service to handle delivery and payment. If the seller goes along with the scam, the fake parcel service charges fees, which the seller is asked to pay by credit card. And the seller’s credit card details are exactly what the scammers are after. Unlike mass-mailed phishing emails, where scammers hope that their generic text will happen to fit one of their targets, in this case phishers go to great lengths to tailor their scam to the victim. They communicate directly with the victim, often in Swiss German, adapting their story to the situation.
- Check sellers’ reviews on independent websites;
- When selling items, do not agree to special requests from buyers (e.g. to use a particular delivery service);
- If you are selling an item, insist that the buyer pays the delivery and transaction costs. Make sure you include this in the ad.
Note:
The title "All I want for Christmas is your Money" is a humorous reference and is in no way associated with Mariah Carey or her song "All I want for Christmas is You". It is used solely in the context of this article and for satirical purposes.
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Last modification 24.12.2024
