iPhone and Android users need to be on high alert this month with scams expected to be on the rise
It’s December and that means millions of us will be buying gifts and sending festive greetings to friends and family. Although it should be one of the happiest times of the year, there is a big reason to stay alert as scammers also love Christmas. Online crooks go into overdrive during the holiday season and getting caught out could leave you seriously out of pocket.
According to new stats from UK mobile network EE getting scammed is a pretty common occurrence with it though that one in four (23 percent) of UK shoppers have fallen victim to festive fraud.
It can be seriously costly, with estimates from UK Finance putting the total bill for Christmas fraud at close to £100 million.
EE’s security partners Norton also estimate that each victim loses more than £1,000 after being scammed. That’s a sum of money no one wants to lose.
Mobile networks, including EE, are working hard to prevent text scams from reaching customers, with millions blocked every month. However, despite their best efforts, some threats will slip through the net and that’s why EE is issuing new advice in a bid to keep customers safe.
Watching out for things such as failed delivery texts or messages that claim to be from family members is good advice and if you are not sure about something…do not respond.
Here is EE’s latest advice and top tips to stay safe this Christmas.
Common Scams of Christmas and what to watch out for.
• Impersonation scams: Also known as ‘Hi Mum, Hi Dad’ scams, criminals often pose as family members or friends saying they’ve lost their phone and need money.
• E-card Scams: Scammers using Christmas e-cards to trick their victims into downloading malware.
• Smishing: Scam delivery texts/emails saying a parcel has been delayed and requiring a link-click to track its status.
• Pressure scams: Time pressure scams, often accompanied by a countdown, are a common tactic scammers use to force shoppers into hasty, ill-considered decisions.
• Website Spoofing: Fake websites offering too-good-to-be-true deals and discounts on popular items.
Speaking about the threats, Richard Wainer, Regulatory Affairs Director at BT Group, said “Our commitment to protecting our customers against scams is unwavering. The festive season is the time of year consumers are most likely to be scammed and it’s even more important that people have the tools they need to guard against attempted scams.
“We know people are increasingly anxious that they or their loved ones will be targeted by scammers in the lead up to Christmas, but by raising awareness of some of the most common techniques and providing advice and services such as Scam Guard, we are determined to continue to protect consumers against fraudsters.”
So, the advice is clear. Be careful, think before responding, don’t click on links and do not part with any of your cash until you are sure who you are sending it to.