Black Friday and Cyber Monday have evolved into a prolonged shopping season filled with enticing deals. Unfortunately, cybercriminals take advantage of this festive rush, putting consumers at risk of both financial loss and data breaches. During this time, safeguarding your customers from cyber threats is not just a responsibility; it's a value-added service that builds trust and loyalty.
It has been reported that the volume of purchase scam cases in the has grown by 43 per cent, from 53,907 in the first half of 2022, to 76,946 in the first half of 2023 - amounting to £40.9 million of losses for victims.
When it comes to deals, customers must take a moment to verify their legitimacy before purchasing. Excitement can often cloud judgment, leading to losses. To help guide them through the process of analysing the situation before jumping to make a purchase, they should…
1. Pause: Rushing into purchases can lead to trouble. Legitimate businesses may create urgency, but so do cybercriminals. Encourage customers to take a step back, avoiding hasty actions.
2. Analyse: Quick analysis is key. Look out for:
- Email authenticity: Check for misspellings or suspicious addresses.
- Deal legitimacy: Evaluate if offers seem too good to be true.
- Action requests: Scrutinise what is being asked. Does the request feel legitimate?
3. Verify: When in doubt, verify. Suggest contacting the official customer service team to confirm requests. A small effort can prevent falling for a scam.
Types of Scams:
It’s important to educate customers about common types of scams that could be circulating during this period.
- Phishing emails/SMS: Fake messages enticing consumers to spend money or share personal information.
- Fake websites: Deceptive sites lure users to enter credit card details or download malware.
- Social media scams: Scammers exploit competitions, posing as winners or replicating pages to deceive entrants.
- Fake phone calls: Scammers may call directly, posing as trusted entities to offer fake discounts.
Protective Measures:
In addition to the three-step process, customers can take additional steps to maximise their online security and reduce the likelihood of an attack.
- Install antivirus software
- Enable 2-factor authentication across all apps
- Exercise caution on social media
- Educate themselves on phishing scams
- Utilise a cyber-risk management tool, like Cyber Xpert
Explore how our all-in-one cyber risk management tool, Cyber Xpert, can shield your customers from evolving cyber threats. With personalised cyber scores, passive scans, education and personalised action plans, we empower your customers to protect their digital world.
For a full tour of our solutions, reach out to us: sales@dynarisk.com