Tens of millions of Americans using popular email providers are being warned by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) that they could have their bank accounts emptied by scammers.
With shoppers in a rush to splash the cash over the holiday season so they can get all of their presents in time for the big day, Christmas has become the best season for fraudsters looking to ruin people's festive cheer.
As many of use are hoping to avoid the mad shopping mall rush, the place where we are most likely to be targeted by hackers and scammers is in our inboxes and online retail spaces.
Here fake AI-made websites and misleading emails could see us parting with our all-important Christmas cash, with scammers clearing out accounts as soon as you mistakenly hand them vital banking information.
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The FBI is urging millions of email users to be extra cautious this festive season, with people using Outlook and Gmail addresses singled out by the agency to be extra cautious.
This is because Outlook and Gmail constitute the vast majority (90%) of personal and business email accounts, with the feds claiming that scammers are focusing on people with these addresses to save themselves time.
In a seasonal warning to the public, the FBI is urging: "As you shop this holiday season, beware of deals that seem too good to be true! Scammers are out in full force."
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To avoid the nightmare of having your bank account emptied over the Christmas period, agents are urging people to think twice before putting in their details and to investigate the legitimacy of any website fully before making a purchase.
FBI advice for Gmail and Outlook users
It might seem straightforward to avoid scam emails, with many of us aware that we should not click on unexpected attachments out of fear of downloading some kind of virus.
But the complexity of email scams have increased as fraud awareness and technology has improved, with the FBI outlining that PDFs are increasingly being used to install viruses on people's computers.
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They also advise:
- Don't click any suspicious links or attachments in emails, on websites, or on social media. Phishing scams and similar crimes get you to click on links and give up personal information like your name, password, and bank account number. In some cases, you may unknowingly download malware to your device.
- Be especially wary if a company asks you to update your password or account information. Look up the company’s phone number on your own and call the company.
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How to avoid payment scams
Your email inbox is not the only place that fraudsters are likely to target you over the holiday season. One of the simplest ways to get you to hand over your cash is simply to ask you for it.
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Many scammers will set up fake websites and businesses that encourage you to hand over your hard-earned cash for a product that they will never actually deliver. You should always use a credit card when doing online shopping to protect yourself against fraud, as your provider should reimburse you for any loss resulting from fraud.
If it is your first time buying from a particular business or seller, the FBI advises that you make sure their website is legitimate by checking the URL. You should also check reviews and feedback for the seller, as any vendor without reviews is more likely to be trying to swindle you out of your money.
The FBI is also urging the public to think about how they pay for an item, telling us to 'never wire money directly to a seller.'
In a similar vein, the agency is warning against using pre-paid gift cards.
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They explain: "In these scams, a seller will ask you to send them a gift card number and PIN. Instead of using that gift card for your payment, the scammer will steal the funds, and you’ll never receive your item."
You can find out more about protecting your purchases this Christmas on the FBI's fraud prevention page.
William Morgan