Beware of these scams as you shop online
Like so much else in life, the internet has done wonders to make holiday shopping easier and more fun - but it has created a whole new universe of threats and potential problems.
Some security experts say nearly 25 percent of people who receive them open "phishing" messages aimed at collecting personal information via email, and more than one in 10 click on dangerous attachments that can compromise your privacy or infect your computer with a ruinous virus.
Here are some of the ways security experts say the bad guys are out to ruin your holidays online this year:
Shipping notices
We've long known unscrupulous hackers have become expert at sending emails that look uncannily like an official bank notice, but they've also become skilled at sending out that may seem to come from a legitimate shipper like FedEx or UPS but actually aim only to get harried shoppers to click on a hazardous URL.
Dangerous websites
Shopping websites can appear inviting and innocent yet contain dangerous links. Hover over them or look at URLs in your address bar to be sure you know where you're being taken.
Fake surveys
Survey emails promise various types of gifts or rewards in exchange for your opinion about a product or store. But what they really want comes at the end, when they ask for your personal information, sometimes even brazenly requesting your banking or credit card information and promising, falsely of course, not to misuse it.
Text phishing
Phishing - it's not just for email anymore. Now, text messages also may be out to do you harm. Beware of scams that claim your savings or checking accounts have been hit with illegal activity, then provide a phone number you can call. When you respond, you may be giving up information identity thieves crave.
Coupon alert
Online coupons are very popular and often valuable. But when they seem too good to be true, you'd best beware. If you've never heard of the company or if the known company's logo looks slightly different in some way, you'd best hit the DELETE button.
Fake refunds
Some email messages appear to come from a hotel, a well-known retailer or an online store carrying suggestions of a wrong delivery or a URL you should click to get a refund. The only thing you'll really get is a computer full of malware or the threat of an emptied-out bank account.
Some useful tips:
• Use credit instead of debit for a better chance that your credit card company will reverse fraudulent charges.
• Be wary of bulk email, which can be a sign of a company that's interested not in your business but your money.
• Know your website, and make sure you're familiar with the business that's asking for your credit card or banking information.
• Watch out for grammatical errors and company logos that look slightly different.
• Know your "friends" - social networks can be full of people out to steal your identity rather than enjoy your holiday pictures of family and pets.