An increased number of phishing scams and malware campaigns take advantage of the Christmas holidays and shopping season. Users who are new to making seasonal online purchases are encouraged to take care and use safe online shopping habits.
Please be cautious when receiving unsolicited email messages that could be part of a potential phishing scam or malware campaign. Do not click on links or download files unless you are sure they are genuine. Phishing scams and malware campaigns may include:
- electronic greeting cards that may contain malware
- requests for charitable contributions which may originate from illegitimate sources claiming to be charities
- screensavers or other forms of media that may contain malware
- credit card applications that may be phishing scams or identity theft attempts
- online shopping advertisements that may be phishing scams or identity theft attempts from bogus retailers
There is more guidance in the Staying Safe Online leaflet and at getsafeonline.org.