'Tis the season for holiday scams, FBI warns

'Tis the season for holiday scams, FBI warns

(Laura Seitz, Deseret News)


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SALT LAKE CITY — 'Tis the season to be jolly, sing loud for all to hear and shop online for the best deal.

But there's nothing that dampens holiday cheer like being cyber scammed. It's akin to the Grinch stealing all your gifts, along with your identity.

With Christmas about two weeks away and seasonal shopping in full swing, criminals are also stealthily walking those bustling virtual sidewalks. Internet criminals don't take the holidays off.

In fact, they're busy trying to steal people's money and personal information. And according to the FBI, they're especially aggressive and creative in their efforts this time of year.

"The bad guys are looking for you to make that one wrong click, and that's where they can exploit your information and take your personal identifiable information," said Jim Lamadrid, FBI Cyber Task Force supervisory special agent.

That one wrong click could also allow cyber hackers to install a keystroke logger, letting them see passwords for everything you log into — including email, Facebook and bank accounts.

The FBI is warning people to be vigilant as they browse and shop online. Scammers have myriad ways to rip you off. Fraud happens year-round but is particularly acute during the Santa season.

The agency recommends using only secure and reputable websites, periodically changing passwords and routinely checking credit card statements. Be cautious about clicking on ads or pictures because you might infect your computer with a virus, Lamadrid said.

Even seemingly innocuous things people do every day like posting a picture on Facebook or Instagram could be exploited.

Be careful about posting on Instagram a smiling photo of you holding the Utah Jazz tickets that came in your Christmas stocking. Criminals could steal the bar code and replicate the tickets. If you must post something, cover the bar code.

Photo: FBI Internet Crime Report. For details on Utah, click here and scroll to page 198.
Photo: FBI Internet Crime Report. For details on Utah, click here and scroll to page 198.

About 1,950 Utahns lost a total of $6.5 million to internet fraud last year, ranking the state 31st nationally in terms of losses, according to complaints submitted to the FBI's cyber complaint center known as IC3. The average loss was about $3,300.

Of those victims, nearly 1,100 were men accounting for $4 million in losses, while 890 were women totaling $2.5 million.

The number of victims and loss amounts, though, are likely much higher. Only an estimated 15 percent of the nation’s fraud victims report crimes to law enforcement, according to the FBI.

Deceptive internet sales or offers is the top complaint, particularly not receiving online purchases and hidden fees, that Utahns make to the state Division of Consumer Protection.

Online shopping scams may offer deals that seem too good to be true, often through phishing emails or advertisements promoting brand name merchandise at extremely low discounts or promise gift cards as an incentive. Other sites may offer products at a great price, but they turn out to be counterfeit, Lamadrid said.

Work-at-home scams also might be attractive to those looking to make extra money for the holidays.

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Lamadrid said people should beware of offers to be an "account executive" where a company wires money to their account, allows them to keep a percentage and asks them to wire the rest someplace else.

"That's essentially becoming an unwitting money mule," he said. "They're basically conducting money laundering for them."

The FBI also advises social media users to beware of posts that offer vouchers or gift cards, even if it appears to be shared by an online friend. Some may pose as holiday promotions or contests that lead to participation in an online survey designed to steal personal information.

Smartphone apps developed as free games also might be designed to steal personal information.

Even savvy internet users could be victimized, Lamadrid said.

At a conference Lamadrid recently attended, the author of book about how not get scammed fell for a phishing email from what appeared to be from a legitimate company — including the logo — where he had a prime account.

"He tells that story, and we're like, 'Who's really safe out there?'" Lamadrid said.

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