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| It’s the most wonderful time of the year…for criminals
Criminals are hard at work this holiday season sending out millions of not-so-merry holiday e-cards to try and trick you into providing personal information or to clicking on an attachment or link that actually conceals malicious software.
What do these scams look like and how do I avoid them?
There are many reputable holiday electronic card publishers in the marketplace so it’s important to be able to spot a phony card so that you don’t miss out on legitimate messages from your friends and family. Phony e-cards may appear to be real, but there are ways to recognize them and to avoid becoming a victim.
- Is the email from someone you know or does the subject line contain their name? According to the Greeting Card Association, a legitimate e-card notification will always include the full name or personal e-mail address of the sender. The sender will never be identified by a generic term such as a “friend” or “family member.” Unless you recognize the full name or personal e-mail address of the sender, the e-mail is likely fraudulent and should be immediately deleted. Don’t click on the link.
- Does the email contain spelling mistakes or does it look suspicious in any way? If you’re unsure if the card is legitimate, don’t click on the link. Instead go directly to the card publisher’s website to safely retrieve your e-card. All legitimate e-card publishers provide a way to collect an e-card directly from their websites, avoiding the use of potentially fraudulent links that can introduce a virus into your computer.
- Does the ecard ask you to verify or enter any personal information or financial information like a credit card? A legitimate e-card will never ask you for personal or financial information. Don’t provide any information and delete the e-mail.
The Greeting Card Association has published some examples of phony e-card scams on their website.
Always be wary of downloading free files, programs, software or screensaver offers that you receive by e-mail or while surfing the Internet. Malicious code, like spyware (that secretly monitors what you do online) and keystroke loggers (that secretly track what you are typing) can be hidden within the downloaded file and used to access personal information, such as passwords and financial information.
For more fraud tips from the Canadian Bankers Association or to sign up to receive new tips by e-mail please visit the Safeguarding Your Money section of the Canadian Bankers Association website. This article is reprinted with permission.
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