IT Regulatory Compliance Security
The Federal Cybersecurity Office Releases Tips for Consumers on Avoiding Holiday Scams
| The Office of Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection has released a consumer advisory on avoiding cyber and online scams during the holiday season, including: – Warning about suspicious texts or emails claiming to come from financial institutions – Beware urgent notifications about account problems or compromise – Take steps to secure their devices and accounts – Use “extreme caution and do not respond” to unsolicited requests, phone calls and emails claiming to be from financial institutions requesting personal or financial information – Verify websites and emails – Avoid clicking links or responding to unsolicited requests – Do not to trust caller ID – Never share sensitive information OCCIP noted that cybercrime contributed to more than $12.5 billion in losses in 2023, marking a 22% increase from 2022. “With the holiday season here, cybercriminals are using multiple platforms to conduct fraudulent activities, targeting consumers during holiday shopping events,” the office said. The advisory also provides tips for consumers targeted by scams about who they should contact to protect their credit and report incidents. As always, stay safe, and think before you click. |