How To Avoid Fakes, Frauds And Online Scams At Christmas (Or Any Time Of Year, Really)

With Christmas and the holiday season fast approaching, thoughts of last minute presents and priority shipping are abundant.

Yet, something dark lurks beneath the sales and well-wishing emails. No, not the Grinch: online scams (the E-Grinch, if you will), seeking to not only steal your Christmas cheer, but your hard-earned money too.

Scams are plentiful and hostile, but there are a few things you can do to avoid them:

Buying Online

When shopping centres are crowded and the queues for the checkout are as long as the one for Santa, it seems obvious that people would turn to online shopping. Not only is it cheap, the wide variety of products make it feel new and exciting. However, the risk of succumbing to scams via online shopping is higher, as online stores aren’t held to quite the same standard as physical ones.

Some ways to combat this include researching the stores you are buying through and checking reviews. Some scams are found in look-alike websites, so although you may think you are shopping through a well-known brand, it could be a fake. Be sure to check the URL is correct and Google the links or company name if unsure.

When buying online, check the company’s security for card processing. A lock symbol meaning the site is secure can be found in the address bar of your browser, according to America's Better Business Bureau. When possible, use services such as PayPal or an account specifically for online purchases. PayPal acts as a protection against scams, as the service has a money-back guarantee when products do not fit the description.

Vouchers and Freebies in Emails

When receiving emails with links promising savings and freebies (ones that aren’t from Student Edge, anyway) take heed of warnings or flagged content. Do not click on links unless you trust the sender (like us!), and be sure you know who they are - or that the sender’s account has not been hacked. Marking suspicious emails as SPAM or reporting them for further enquiry can help stop scams from reaching others.

Giving out personal information, such as passwords or account details, both online and through other means, allows people to access your personal information. Be sure to change your passwords regularly to make it more difficult for them.

If you are unsure if an email is legitimate, search the company or the subject line on the web to see if it is a known scam. If you sign up for a paid subscription online, check your account often to ensure the right amount of money is coming out.

Pop-ups and Malware

Ever wondered how to apply for an American green card? Well, my seven-year-old self could tell you. A pop up on the Saddle Club website had me halfway ready for a trip to the US as I diligently applied for a green card, thinking it was something else.

Although embarrassing, the green card pop-up was, luckily, not malicious. However, they should be avoided as much as possible. Torrent sites are a breeding ground for pop-ups; if you cannot avoid the site, be sure to install blocks on your computer to prevent them from getting through. Doing proper scans of your computer regularly to check for malware can also be useful.

Viruses and scams are an unfortunate part of technology, but by taking a little extra care to read dialogue boxes (and some terms and conditions), your money - and your computer - will be a lot better for it.

Sarah Bellis is one of Student Edge’s student contributors. Learn more about the contributors program.