‘Tis The Season To Be Scammed
December 27, 2008 by AntivirusWare.What are you expecting to get in your e-stocking this holiday season? Are you expecting a singing card? Are you really expecting greeting from a long lost college buddy? E-cards are an inexpensive way to send holiday cheer, but be warned—online criminals are poised to take advantage of this. Can you tell the difference between a legit e-card and a host for malware? If not, you’re not alone. Most people can’t.
According to recent reports by security vendors, a Trojan horse has been making the rounds, masquerading as a holiday-themed e-card from McDonalds, Hallmark, or Coca Cola.
IN order to better inform the public at large about these risks, computer security firm AVG launched a website called “Slam the Holiday Scam.” They are working with various online safety organizations including the National Crime Prevention Council, the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, CyberStreetSmart.org, i-Safe, the National Cyber Security Alliance, and Consumers Union, and Protection from Brand Infection.
They offer several tips to net users, some of which should be familiar to most online users. For example, they advise that you should not open any attachments. Most legitimate e-cards offer links to the company’s website so you can go directly to your card. Almost none send attachments.
You should also use security software on your desktop, of course. Beware of misspellings in the headline or company name, and also beware of fake names, or “secret admirers,” and of course—always, absolutely always, read the fine print before accepting any terms.