Watch Out for Valentine's Day Scams
The bad guys will never waste an occasion to try and scam you and Valentine’s Days is no exception. Based on the information released by security companies ESET and McAfee, I’ve put together a list of scams you should be on the lookout for.
Valentine’s Day Spam
You should always be cautious when it comes to spam. On Valentine’s Day you can expect to get spam that promotes deals on roses, chocolates, jewelry, and other things people will want to buy for their loved ones. You may end up visiting a bogus website and spending money on merchandise that you will never get.
Valentine’s Day Fake or Malicious Cards
Cybercriminals are well aware of the fact that people like to send greeting cards on Valentine’s Day. That is why they will circulate fake cards and fake links purporting to point to such cards. Be cautious if you receive a card from an email address you don’t recognize and if you are asked to download software to view the greeting card.
Online Dating Scams
Cybercriminals can make an easy buck by taking advantage of online dating sites. The cybercriminals will take advantage of those who are looking for love by establishing a phony online relationship then asking for money, valuables or personal information. They will for example establish an online relationship then ask for money because they need it for a sick relative.
You should also be cautious when receiving emails that seem to come from women in search of love.
Search Engine Poisoning
The bad guys will undoubtedly use BlackHaT SEO to poison search results and ensure that when keywords related to Valentines day are entered into Google and other search engine, malicious websites come at or near the top of the search results list. You can use a safe search tool to protect yourself; such a tool will tell you if it’s safe to click a link in the results list.
Social Networking Scams
If a friend gives a malicious app access to his Facebook info, you would be bombarded with spam messages from that friend. Twitter is no stranger to scams either. So be weary of any message on your social network that uses shortened hyperlinks to lure you to a certain webpage, especially if that webpage promises some too good to believe Valentine’s Day offer.
So keep your eyes open and stay safe this Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Day Spam
You should always be cautious when it comes to spam. On Valentine’s Day you can expect to get spam that promotes deals on roses, chocolates, jewelry, and other things people will want to buy for their loved ones. You may end up visiting a bogus website and spending money on merchandise that you will never get.
Valentine’s Day Fake or Malicious Cards
Cybercriminals are well aware of the fact that people like to send greeting cards on Valentine’s Day. That is why they will circulate fake cards and fake links purporting to point to such cards. Be cautious if you receive a card from an email address you don’t recognize and if you are asked to download software to view the greeting card.
Online Dating Scams
Cybercriminals can make an easy buck by taking advantage of online dating sites. The cybercriminals will take advantage of those who are looking for love by establishing a phony online relationship then asking for money, valuables or personal information. They will for example establish an online relationship then ask for money because they need it for a sick relative.
You should also be cautious when receiving emails that seem to come from women in search of love.
Search Engine Poisoning
The bad guys will undoubtedly use BlackHaT SEO to poison search results and ensure that when keywords related to Valentines day are entered into Google and other search engine, malicious websites come at or near the top of the search results list. You can use a safe search tool to protect yourself; such a tool will tell you if it’s safe to click a link in the results list.
Social Networking Scams
If a friend gives a malicious app access to his Facebook info, you would be bombarded with spam messages from that friend. Twitter is no stranger to scams either. So be weary of any message on your social network that uses shortened hyperlinks to lure you to a certain webpage, especially if that webpage promises some too good to believe Valentine’s Day offer.
So keep your eyes open and stay safe this Valentine’s Day!
