Cybercriminals Don’t Take Days Off

A few days ago the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a stern reminder that “shoppers should be more vigilant than ever for scams to steal their money and personal information.”

The FBI reminds us that although “criminals are often aggressive and creative in their efforts to obtain such money and personal information, there are certain red flags and common schemes holiday shoppers can guard against this holiday season.”

When shopping online, keep one thing in mind; if the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is! Consumers are often tricked into clicking through ads and discount coupons on untrusted sites, releasing private and confidential information during the process.

Scams involving popular social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and others are also highly elevated during the holiday season. Don’t fall for scams that may be disguised as holiday promotions or contests.

The FBI also shares some best practices on ways to better protect yourself during this holiday season. They include:

  • Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) emails.
  • Ensure a site is secure and reputable before providing your credit card number online. Don’t trust a site just because it claims to be secure.
  • Do your research to ensure legitimacy of the individual or company you are purchasing from.

For a complete copy of the FBI Press Release, click hereand also remember to visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov to file a complaint regarding cyber crime.

At Withum, we have built out a cyber secure services team that is here to answer any questions. More importantly, we are here to help you and your company even before a data breach occurs. Our team of trained professionals can play a critical role in the education process for company personnel and organizations. Drop me an email at [email protected] before you need to!

Enjoy the holidays and keep your data safe and secure.

From,

Everyone at WithumSmith+Brown

To ensure compliance with U.S. Treasury rules, unless expressly stated otherwise, any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by the recipient for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code.

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