How to Avoid Shopping Scams

US-CERT reminds users to remain vigilant when browsing or shopping online this holiday season. E-cards from unknown senders may contain malicious links. Fake advertisements or shipping notifications may deliver infected attachments. Spoofed e-mail messages and fraudulent posts on social networking sites may request support for phony causes.

To avoid seasonal campaigns that could result in security breaches, identity theft, or financial loss, US-CERT encourages users to take the following actions:

• Avoid following unsolicited links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
• Refer to our security Tips to learn more about Shopping Safely Online and Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks.
• Visit the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Information page on Charity Scams.

If you believe you are a victim of a holiday phishing scam or malware campaign, consider the following actions:

• File a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
• Report the attack to the police and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission.
• Contact your financial institution immediately and close any accounts that may have been compromised.
• Watch for any unexplainable charges to your account.
• Immediately notify the bank if any account activity doesn't look familiar.