THE FBI has issued a warning to Christmas shoppers as it doesn’t want you to fall victim to some common online scams.
The message from The FBI Memphis Field Office told Tennesseans to watch out for scams that could steal their money but the tips are useful for everyone.
1
Douglas Korneski, special agent in charge of the FBI Memphis Field Office, said: “According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), in 2020, Tennesseans lost over $40,191,616 due to a variety of scams.
“Remain vigilant and if you believe you have been the victim of a scam, report it to the FBI at IC3.gov.”
The FBI warning included four tips to remember when shopping online in the run up to Christmas.
“Practice good cybersecurity hygiene”
The US government agency advised: “Don’t click any suspicious links or attachments in emails, on websites, or on social media.
“Phishing scams and similar crimes get you to click on links and give up personal information like your name, password, and bank account number.
Most read in Tech
“In some cases, you may unknowingly download malware to your device.”
It also warns about companies asking you for new password or account information and says you should reach out to the company through an official number before doing this.
“Know who you’re buying from or selling to”
Checking that the website your shopping on is legitimate is another great tip from the FBI.
The site should have “https” in the web address and if it doesn’t you shouldn’t be shopping on it.
Always research companies and check the reviews of buyers or sellers.
If someone pretends to be selling from inside the country but then reveals they are away, this could be a red flag.
The FBI also stressed: “Avoid buyers who request their purchase be shipped using a certain method to avoid customs or taxes inside another country.”
“Be careful how you pay”
The FBI says you shouldn’t be wiring money directly to a seller.
It also warns against giving away gift card numbers and PINs as a scammer could take you gift card information and steal the funds.
It added: “Use a credit card when shopping online and check your statement regularly.
“If you see a suspicious transaction, contact your credit card company to dispute the charge.”
“Monitor the shipping process”
This was the FBI’s final piece of advice for a safe online shopping experience.
It says you should always get a tracking number for anything you buy online so you can track the delivery process.
It added: “Be suspect of any credit card purchases where the address of the cardholder does not match the shipping address when you are selling.
“Always receive the cardholder’s authorization before shipping any products.”
What to do if you fall victim to an online scam
Falling victim to an online scam is easily done.
If you notice quickly, contact your bank immediately and try and get the transaction stopped.
Your financial institution may be able to contact the company in charge of a scammer’s account.
If you’re in the US, you can report the incident to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov.
If you’re in the UK you can contact Action Fraud.
Small business owner exposes customer who tried to scam her about missing order – can you spot what gave it away?
In other news, smartphone experts are warning anyone thinking of buying an iPhone for Christmas to think again.
WhatsApp is adding a cryptocurrency feature for some users in the US.
And, we revealed an iPhone document scanning trick you need to try.
