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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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DLCA Informs Public of Christmas Scam Tips

The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (DLCA) notifies the public of helpful consumer tips that can assist them in becoming more aware of scams that may exist during the holiday season. “With Christmas being exactly one week away, these tips will cover some cyber scams that are prevalent during this time of year,” said Commissioner Biggs.
Ten Cyber Scams of Christmas:
Charity Phishing- During the holiday season, hackers send e-mails that appear to be from charitable organizations. However, these e-mails are fake Web sites designed to steal donations, credit card information and the identities of donors.
Fake Invoices from Delivery Services- Fake invoices and delivery notifications appearing to be from Federal Express, UPS or the U.S. Customs Service are often sent out by cybercriminals. They e-mail consumers asking for credit card information or require you to open an online invoice to receive a package. Once this is done, the person’s information is stolen or malware is automatically installed on their computer.
• Social Networking Friend Requests- Consumers should be aware of authentic- looking friend requests from various social networking cites that consists of links that can automatically install malware on your computer and steal your personal information.
Holiday Jewelry- A new holiday campaign leads shoppers to malware-ridden sites claiming to offer discounted luxury gifts from Cartier, Gucci and Tag Heuer. Cybercriminals use legitimate logos to trick shoppers into buying products they never receive.
Online Identity Theft- Consumers may use free wireless networks at local cafes where hackers can spy on their activity and steal their personal information.
Phony Web sites- Hackers create Web sites for persons searching for holiday-related wallpaper, Christmas carol lyrics or festive screensavers. Downloading these holiday-themed files may infect your computer with spyware, adware or other malware.
Job Related Email Rip-offs- Scam artists prey on desperate job seekers, with the promise of high paying jobs and work from home moneymaking opportunities. Once your information is submitted and pay a set up fee, hackers steal your money instead of following through on the promised employment opportunity.
• Auction Site Fraud- Scammers often lurk on auction sites. Buyers should beware of auction deals that appear too good to be true because often these purchases never reach their new owner.

• Password Robbery- Low cost tools to uncover a person’s password are used by thieves who send out malware to record keystrokes. Once criminals have access to one or more passwords, they can gain entry to consumer’s bank and credit card details. They also commonly send out spam from a user’s account to their contac

• E-mail Banking- Official looking e-mails from financial institutions are sent out by cybercriminals asking users to confirm their account information, such as user name and password with a warning that their account will become invalid if they do not comply.

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