Online Shopping Scams on Mothers Day
Mother’s Day Online Shopping Scams involve tricks used by cybercriminals targeting consumers shopping for Mother’s Day gifts online. These scams include fake ads on social media, phoney e-commerce websites selling counterfeit products, fake gift cards and coupons sent through email or text messages, and romance scams targeting individuals seeking relationships online.
As Mother’s Day approaches, we’re all planning ways to make our mums feel special. But we need to be careful because there are scammers who might try fool us and use our feelings and trust against us. Just like with any special event, as we get closer to Mother’s Day, stores are advertising special deals to celebrate moms everywhere. This gives cybercriminals a chance to try everything to make money, even from a kind occasion like Mother’s Day.
Why Online Scams are Common During Mother’s Day
When people are searching for gifts or sending messages online during holidays like Mother’s Day, they’re often focused on finding the perfect gift or expressing their feelings to loved ones. This can make them more vulnerable to scams because they may not be paying close attention to the authenticity of the websites they visit.
Two Major Reasons why Online Scams are Common during Mother’s Day
- Increased Online Activity
During holidays like Mother’s Day, people tend to spend more time online for different reasons. They might be searching for the perfect gift for their mothers, browsing through online stores for deals and discounts, making reservations at restaurants or spas for special Mother’s Day outings, or sending electronic greetings and cards to their loved ones. This increase in online activity creates a larger digital presence for individuals, making them more visible and accessible to scammers who are constantly on the lookout for potential targets.
Furthermore, the rise in online transactions and interactions during this time provides scammers with more opportunities to carry out their scam activities. Whether it’s through fake websites, phishing emails, or misleading advertisements, scammers can exploit the increased online presence of individuals to trick them into revealing sensitive information, making unauthorised purchases, or falling victim to other forms of online deception.
- Emotional Vulnerability
Mother’s Day is a sentimental occasion that often stirs strong emotions. It’s a time when individuals express love, appreciation, and gratitude towards their mothers, bringing feelings of nostalgia, and sentimentality. However, these emotions can also make individuals more open to manipulation by scammers.
Scammers are skilled at using emotional triggers to prompt reactions from their targets. By creating misleading messages that manipulate emotions, scammers prompt urgency, excitement, or fear, leading individuals to act quickly without checking the truthfulness of the communication or offer. For example, they might send phishing emails with subject lines like “Make Mum Smile with this Exclusive Offer!” to evoke an emotional response and prompt clicks
What are The Types of Scams During Mother’s Day?
Mother’s Day brings not only love but also scams. From fake ads to fake gift cards, scammers stop at nothing to take advantage of the occasion. Be wary of attractive offers and suspicious websites, as these could be traps set by scammers looking to scam you.
- Scam Ads
These ads are spread through social media and chat applications, often using hacked accounts. Clicking on them redirects users to fraudulent websites advertising fake or non-existent products. These websites may also distribute malware, leading to consequences such as data theft or device ransom.
- Fake Shopping Websites
Cybercriminals create fake e-commerce sites, often impersonating reputable retailers, to lure victims with discounted Mother’s Day gifts. Victims who make purchases on these sites risk having their payment credentials stolen, leading to unauthorised charges on their accounts. It’s essential to research and verify the legitimacy of online shops before making any purchases.
- Fake Gift Cards and Coupons
Scammers distribute fake gift cards and coupons, sometimes through malware-infected links. Clicking on these links can download malware onto the victim’s device, potentially compromising sensitive information or spreading the scam to their contacts. It’s crucial to only use coupons and gift cards from official sources and to verify their authenticity.
- Romance Scams
With the increased use of dating apps and websites, scammers take advantage by posing as potential romantic partners to swindle victims out of money or personal information. Signs of a romance scam include suspicious behaviour, such as quickly asking to move communication off the platform, and verifying the identity of the suitor through methods like reverse image searches
How to Avoid Falling Victim to Online Scams During Mother’s Day
Stay safe while shopping online for Mother’s Day. You can do this by shopping from real websites, avoiding unrealistic deals, avoiding clicking on spam or promotional link emails, opting for secure payment methods, and staying informed about common scams during the Mother’s Day season.
Shop from Real Websites
Reputable websites are those that are well-known, established, and have a history of providing secure transactions and quality products or services. Examples include major retailers like Amazon, Costco, or Target, as well as brand websites like Nike or Apple. By sticking to these trusted websites, you reduce the risk of encountering scam sellers or counterfeit goods.
Verify Deals
Scammers often use convincing deals or offers to attract potential victims. These deals may appear too good to be true, such as really good discounts on popular items or freebies with purchases. Before making a purchase based on a deal, take the time to check its legitimacy. Check the retailer’s official website or trusted deal sites to see if the offer is being promoted elsewhere. If you can’t find the deal listed elsewhere or if it seems unusually generous, it’s best to proceed with caution or avoid it altogether.
Use secure payment methods
Secure payment methods offer additional protections against fraud and unauthorised transactions. Credit cards, for example, typically have fraud monitoring systems in place and provide avenues for disputing charges. Virtual credit cards and third-party payment systems like PayPal add an extra layer of security by keeping your financial information private during transactions. In contrast, debit cards are directly linked to your bank account and may not offer the same level of fraud protection.
Check Website Authenticity
Fake websites are a common tactic used by cybercriminals to trick unsuspecting shoppers into sharing their personal or financial information. These websites may closely mimic the appearance of legitimate retailers but often have slight differences, such as misspelt URLs or unusual domain names. Before making a purchase, carefully review the website’s URL for any signs of tampering or inconsistency. Additionally, look for trust indicators like SSL certificates or security badges to confirm the website’s authenticity. Cybertrace has a ScamID tool for checking a website’s Authenticity,
Avoid Clicking on Suspicious Links
Phishing emails or messages often contain links to fake websites or malicious software. These links appear to lead to legitimate retailers or promotional offers but actually redirect you to scam websites to steal your information. To avoid falling victim to phishing, using Cybertrace’s ScamID tool is crucial when you’re suspicious about a website, as it allows you to give info whether a link is authentic or fake.
Summary
Mother’s Day Online Shopping scams pose a threat, exploiting online activity and emotional vulnerability among shoppers to scam consumers. Tactics include fake ads on social media, fake e-commerce websites, fake gift cards and romance scams. To stay safe from these scams, shop from real websites, check deals, use secure payment methods and avoid clicking suspicious links.
Contact Us
Cybertrace are here to help. We recognise the importance of ensuring your safety from cyberthreats, particularly on occasions such as Mother’s Day. Reach out if you’ve been the victim of a scam and we may be able to investigate.
Questions For The Audience
During Mothers Day, were you scammed while shopping online? Tell us your story.
