Cybersecurity professor shares tips to avoid holiday shopping scams

Image courtesy of Uptown Normal

NORMAL, Ill. – Holiday shopping is just around the corner. Every year, people scour online shopping websites for the best deals. With that also comes the risk of online scams.

Social media has become a major playground for online shopping scams. As users scroll through their feeds, fake advertisements can appear, offering deals that seem too good to be true. When users click and make a purchase, the product often never arrives. This scheme is known as a non-delivery scam.

The scams are typically formed using AI tools. The websites are fake, and they will have fake branding, reviews and payment pages.

Another type of scam is fake shipping emails or messages. These messages will claim there is an issue with the package that was ordered. These scams are looking for information and money from the individual.

Associate professor of cybersecurity Yousra Javed gave advice on how to avoid these scams.

“If you get an unsolicited message, it’s best just to ignore it and do not click on those links in the emails or messages,” Javed said.

One way to avoid holiday scams is to research what you are trying to purchase. Try to avoid clicking on random links and type in the website name instead.

Another sign is that some scams will use unusual payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers.

Javed mentioned that if someone thinks they have been scammed, they should stop all contact with the scammer. Shoppers should also contact their bank if they have already purchased the item.

Another action shoppers can take is to change their passwords to their accounts or set up two-factor authentication.

On the other hand, online shopping has some AI tools that may be useful. Companies like Walmart and Amazon have online assistants that shoppers can inquire.

“People can type in their inquiry to help them get personalized gift recommendations or ideas,” Javed added.

These websites recognize users’ past purchases and give recommendations on items. Other features allow for a virtual try-on with clothing, and shoppers can even virtually place items like furniture in spots around their home.

Holiday shopping can be a good tool, but sometimes it can come at a cost. Javed shared some final advice to help shoppers prevent scams.

“Make sure you are going to the website yourself and typing in the URL, and doing the shopping yourself,” Javed said. “Don’t click links through the emails or messages, and make sure you use secure payment methods because they offer protection from fraud.”