The holiday season is quickly approaching and with it, holiday shopping. You can expect to see special sales from retailers and sneaky scams from cybercriminals. During the holiday season, cybercriminals may try to trick you with spoofed apps and malicious email attachments.  

Watch Out for Spoofed Apps

Today, it’s common for retailers to have mobile apps that offer exclusive discounts and allow you to make purchases from your device. Cybercriminals can create spoofed apps that look like they’re from a legitimate retailer. These spoofed apps will even allow you to place an order. But instead of receiving your item, you’ll be delivering your payment information to cybercriminals. 

Watch Out for Malicious Attachments

Many retailers will send coupons and shipping information through email attachments. Cybercriminals often impersonate legitimate retailers’ emails to send malicious email attachments. These emails prompt you to act quickly to receive a discount or even free items. But if you download any of these attachments, the only free thing you're likely to get is malware.

What Can I Do to Stay Safe?

Follow the tips below to stay safe from shopping scams this holiday season:

• Only download apps from verified app stores or the retailer’s official website.
• Be cautious of unexpected opportunities to save money. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. 
• Think before you click! Cyberattacks are designed to trigger you to click links impulsively.