The dark side of the festival of lights
Cyber criminals are constantly on the lookout for unsuspecting victims, especially during the festive season. This time of year sees an increase in online shopping and digital transactions, and cyber criminals are preparing for their
kind of celebration. They send phishing emails and messages, and create fake websites in an attempt to steal your personal information and money.
This Diwali, you can protect yourself with a little awareness and vigilance. Here are some common types of cyberattacks and scams you may come across around this festive season and how to safeguard yourself.
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Messages with links on Whatsapp and SMS
You may receive SMS and text messages on WhatsApp from unidentified numbers claiming to be from a legitimate company. These messages have a link and receivers are asked to click the link to claim a gift card. However, in reality, the link installs malware that can track your activities. The best way to avoid gift card scams is to never click a link from an unknown number. Always question, “Why would someone send me a gift card from an unidentified number?”
And nothing comes for ‘free’. Lastly, never enter personal details or share OTPs on any thirdparty websites.
‘Free courier’ is a scam
Courier scams have been prevalent for some time now. People get contacted and they are told that they have an
expensive gift from someone they know, however, to be able to get that delivered to them, they must pay a fee.
