This content was created by Robert Siciliano. This content was uploaded by Robert Siciliano. This is a YouTube video titled "12 Scams of the Holidays continued!" (Contact 6 Alert) created on 2015-04-06. The clip features a short news/consumer-protection segment led by Katrina Cravy (identified at the end) with multiple speakers discussing common holiday scams — phishing emails, deceptive advertising (too-good-to-be-true deals), fake charities, device theft, and risks of free public Wi‑Fi — and offering practical tips (don’t click suspicious links, verify charities on give.org, use a VPN, keep devices updated).
Chapters
Well, there is no doubt many of us are opening up our wallets this time of year more than usual, of course. But watch out, in the season of giving, scammers are looking to take just as much as they can. In tonight's Contact 6 Alert, Katrina Cravy has a look at the top scams around the holidays.
Whether you're spending money for gifts or giving back to charity, there's a whole lot of people out there ready to take advantage of your giving spirit this holiday season. Online security company McAfee released a list of the top scams to look out for this time of year. Number 1 on that list is in your inbox. Scammers phish for people who click on their bogus holiday emails. There's an easy solution though for those so-called phishing emails.
I recommend not clicking links in the body of the emails because if you do, you're gonna get malware, malicious software, spyware that's designed to watch what you do.
Another popular holiday scam, deceptive advertising. Hackers snag people's information when you're looking for a good deal.
You might see a link on, say, Facebook for a Kohl's or Best Buy gift card for 50% off. I mean, really, are they going to offer a gift card for 50% off? If that's a too-good-to-be-true offer, don't click it.
Next on the list is something many of us do every day: using your smartphones, your tablets, and laptops in public. Don't ever leave those devices unattended. With the craziness of the crowds, it's more likely to be stolen or have information stolen off of it. Also, be careful using free Wi-Fi.
Free Wi-Fi Your Wi-Fi essentially is vulnerable to criminal hackers sniffing out that data as it travels over the web.
A simple solution is protecting your device by downloading a virtual private network program, or VPN, that will encrypt your connection.
Another holiday scam to keep an eye out for: fake charities.
They especially target people this time of year. The way they do it is they call or they email you something that typical real charities would never do. So remember, always check them out on give.org. Never give them your information or any money. And no matter the scam, you don't have to be a victim. Just stay informed.
Just, you know, do a quick search, keep updated, update your devices, and chances are you're going to be fine.
An important reminder for the holidays or really any time of year. I'm Katrina Cravy, Contact 6.
