It’s nearly Black Friday and Cyber Monday—that beautiful time of the year when Americans forego their normal, sensible fiscal concerns and embrace the spirit of debauched consumerism that our great country is really all about. But before you bust out that credit card to needlessly splurge on a new 4K OLED or a Meta Quest Pro or, if you’re feeling extra bold, a Humane AI pin, it might be best to take a quick skim of some online safety tips. Just as you might be on the lookout for hot deals, cybercriminals are on the lookout for the weakest members of the digital herd and are hoping to scam them hard.
Yep, hackers love deal days just as much as the rest of us, because it’s the perfect opportunity to phish an unsuspecting gift buyer. With that in mind, here are a few tips to stay safe amidst the shopping frenzy.
Let’s be honest: Most of us are going to order the bulk of our stuff from places like Amazon or Best Buy, which means that the chances that you’ll stumble onto a fake website or a social media scam will, hopefully, be low. Of course, scammers know you’ll be going to Amazon or Best Buy, so that’s who they’ll impersonate. It always pays to be wary, so keep your head on a swivel and stay on the lookout for those phishing messages and seedy offers. Tens of millions of dollars are lost each year to this sort of thing; you certainly don’t want to be one of the unlucky few.
Source: Gizmodo