Cyber Monday sales are expected to hit a record $13.2 billion on Monday, which is 6.1% more than in 2023.¹ While this is great for online retailers, it’s important to remember that cybercriminals are just as excited as you are about the holiday rush.

Much of the madness begins with your inbox. You’ll likely be flooded with emails from what appear to be legitimate companies offering irresistible deals or important information about your orders. While some certainly are legit, others can be fraudulent attempts to install malware on your device, steal sensitive data, or gain access to your accounts. It is essential to be vigilant and take precautions to protect yourself from falling victim to these scams.

Here are five strategies to help you sidestep phishing scams and shop safely on Cyber Monday.

1.    Choose Your Vendors Wisely

Phishing scams are particularly rife during the holiday rush, with fraudsters using increasingly sophisticated methods to trick people into giving away their personal information or clicking on malicious links. Therefore, it's crucial to take precautions and protect yourself from falling victim to these scams. One of the most effective ways to do this is to be vigilant and only shop with trustworthy sellers on secure sites. If you come across a seller you’re not familiar with, take a moment to look them up by checking their Better Business Bureau (BBB) Business Profile (BBB.org). Here, you can review their rating and read customer reviews to gain insights into their reliability.

2.    Be on the Lookout for Phishing Emails

With the ever-evolving tactics employed by phishers, it is essential to scrutinize emails meticulously before taking any action. With the common use of look-alike domains, it’s easy to believe the sender is legitimate. And, with the use of artificial intelligence (AI), phishing emails have become much more difficult to spot. Still, pay close attention to the grammar used in the email and look for any errors or inconsistencies because legitimate businesses typically maintain a high standard of professionalism in their communication.

Keep in mind that phishers often employ social engineering techniques to trick unsuspecting individuals into divulging sensitive information or clicking on malicious links. Also, be wary of emails that create a sense of urgency or pressure to take immediate action. Legitimate businesses will rarely employ scare tactics or limited-time offers to pressure you into making a decision.

It is also important to exercise caution when dealing with any links or attachments included in emails. Cybercriminals often use these elements to plant malware or direct users to fraudulent websites designed to harvest sensitive information. Before clicking on any links, hover over them to preview the actual destination URL and ensure it aligns with the sender's domain. If you have reservations about the email's authenticity, don’t open any attachments or click on embedded links.

3.    Stay Secure When Visiting Websites

While shopping online, it's crucial to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of websites before divulging any personal information. Phishers regularly set up look-alike websites with a slightly different domain name. Should you suspect one, search for and visit the seller’s primary website and see if there is any mention of the particular sale or offer you’re considering.

Refrain from providing sensitive data on untrusted platforms. Always inspect the URL meticulously, paying close attention to potential misspellings or the presence of unfamiliar characters, as these could indicate a fraudulent site.

Ensure that any webpage you purchase from is secure. Secure web addresses, denoted by the prefix "HTTPS," provide an additional layer of protection for your sensitive information, unlike unsecured "HTTP" addresses.

4.    Protect Your Financial and Personal Information

Most often, the end goal for phishers is to obtain any type of personal information that leads to money. At the top of the list, especially amid holiday shopping, is credit card and banking information. While shopping online this Cyber Monday, it’s best to make online purchases with your credit card. If you later see charges that aren’t yours, you can dispute them through your credit card company. Unfortunately, debit cards don't generally offer this same protection.

As always, be sure your credit card and banking accounts have robust passwords and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible to enhance your account's security. Proactively update your software to the latest versions, ensuring that any vulnerabilities are patched, thereby fortifying your defenses against cyber threats.

5.    Purchase Wisely

Making wise purchasing decisions is crucial to avoid falling victim to scams. Cybercriminals will often use exceptionally enticing and unrealistic offers as bait for a phishing scam. To avoid such a scam, compare prices from different reputable retailers before making a final purchase. As a golden rule, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is!

As you gear up for Cyber Monday and the holiday shopping season, remember that a little vigilance goes a long way. Just like Santa checks his list twice, double-check those emails and links before you click. One of the best ways to ensure you’re as safe as possible from phishing emails is with the help of a third party.

INKY provides the most comprehensive malware and email phishing protection available. It scans every sent and delivered email automatically and flags malicious emails, protecting organizations and individuals from even the most complex threats. INKY’s intelligent machine learning algorithms identify abnormalities in emails, even if the threat has never been seen before.

If you’re not working with INKY yet but are intrigued, please take a minute to set up a free demonstration to learn how INKY’s email security can keep you and your customers safe from phishing attacks, data breaches, ransomware, and more. Schedule a free demonstration or become a partner today.

Until then, happy shopping, and may your holidays be phish-free!

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INKY is an award-winning, behavioral email security platform that blocks phishing threats, prevents data leaks, and coaches users to make smart decisions. Like a cybersecurity coach, INKY signals suspicious behaviors with interactive email banners that guide users to take safe action on any device or email client. IT teams don’t face the burden of filtering every email themselves or maintaining multiple systems. Through powerful technology and intuitive user engagement, INKY keeps phishers out for good. Learn why so many companies trust the security of their email to INKY. Request an online demonstration today.

¹Source: https://apnews.com/article/cyber-monday-sales-online-holiday-shopping-59d13c2e184cc10b17c3f0bdd7573323