As the festive season envelops us, the U.S. Attorney's Office is sounding the alarm on the heightened risk of cyberscams, and they are putting particular weight behind protecting older adults, a group especially vulnerable to online cons. In a recent bulletin, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King has expressed concern, cautioning, "The holiday season is a time for joy and generosity, but it’s also a time when cybercriminals seek to target unsuspecting consumers and exploit increased online activity." This message is a stark reminder for all, urging consumers to maintain a heightened awareness, particularly when engaging in online shopping, charitable donations, or hunting for seasonal employment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Consumers are to specifically watch out for fraudulent activities like fake online stores, potentially rigged with deeply discounted prices to bait unsuspecting shoppers. These setups typically exploit the desires for in-demand goods like electronics or jewelry. The FBI's 2023 Internet Crimes Report pinpointed North Carolina among the top 15 states bearing the brunt of online financial frauds, with monetary losses skyrocketing to $12.5 billion, as highlighted in a report issued by the office. Scammers have been known to especially actively target older adults, with people aged 60 and above reporting combined losses of an astronomical $3.4 billion to financial trickery.
The onslaught of deceit doesn't simply halt at shady storefronts; missed delivery notifications are another common ruse. Cybercriminals dispatch bogus alerts about undelivered packages, and clicking on the associated links could lead directly to your info being swiped. "Be especially cautions with delivery websites that ask for your personal or payment information to complete a package delivery," the warning goes. Moreover, don't be hoodwinked by the allure of substantially marked-down gift cards, which might just carry a balance of zero once purchased, or by fake charities masquerading as portals of goodwill—check resources like the Better Business Bureau before parting with your money to charitable causes. Phishing attempts using emails or texts are rampant too, employing underhand tactics to pilfer sensitive account information, according to U.S. Attorney's Office.
For those plummeting into the job market over the holidays, vigilant energy is a must to sidestep employment scams. The scenario often involves too-good-to-be-true job offers, requiring upfront investment for training or equipment, or confidential details up front. The U.S. Attorney’s Office advises, "Be particularly mindful of money mule schemes, in which a fake employer asks you to cash a check through your bank, keep a portion of the money, and then send the rest of the money back to the employer." Furthermore, the seminar on scam awareness recently co-organized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte sought to arm older adults with necessary defense tactics against these deceptions through the playful yet educative "Fraud Bingo" game.
To fortify oneself against the slew of scams, key advice from authorities includes never sharing personal info with strangers, scrutinizing any fee-paying prize offers, sidestepping pesky pop-up ads, and deleting messages of dubious origin. "Remember, it’s not rude to say, 'NO'," says the U.S. Attorney’s Office. For complete details on precautions and reported increment in scams this holiday season, it's prudent to check out the full statement by the prosecutorial office.
