The holidays are a great time to travel, shop, and enjoy quality time with friends and family. It’s also the time of year that cyber criminals take advantage of the holiday hustle and bustle to steal information from shoppers and travelers.
That’s why you need to stay alert and watch out for suspicious activity. Some of the most commonly used holiday scams include the following:
n Online deals. Watch out for deals that seem too good to be true and be wary of unfamiliar websites.
n Charitable giving. Make sure any donations you make go to reputable, legitimate charities.
n Gift cards. Purchase gift cards from credible, well-known retailers or purchase directly from the store instead. Similarly, check the source before accepting or using free gift cards.
n Shipment notifications. Look for unfamiliar email senders who ask for personal details. Cyber criminals sometimes pose as package delivery companies to trick individuals into providing personal information.
To help protect yourself from the consequences of a scam, monitor your credit card and bank accounts for suspicious activity. Also, don’t forget to protect your electronic devices during holiday travel. Turn off your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections when not in use; instead, use your cellphone as a mobile hotspot. Avoid using public charging stations, often found in airports, which could open up your text messages, emails, photos, and passwords to cyber criminals. Finally, always password protect your devices and lock your screen when not in use.
For more information on how to stay cybersafe year-round, visit the CyberSafe at USPS® websites on Blue (blue.usps.gov/cyber/) and LiteBlue (liteblue.usps.gov/cyber/), or the public-facing website at uspscybersafe.com.
— Corporate Information Security Office,
Chief Information Security Officer
and Digital Solutions, 12-21-17
