Caution! Especially in the last two weeks before Christmas, many users try to buy gifts online at short notice.
A representative ESET survey conducted by YouGov shows that a good half of children will be able to look forward to electronic devices under the Christmas tree this year. But at the moment, game consoles, smartphones, tablets and computers are in short supply or can only be obtained at high prices. Criminals shamelessly exploit the high demand and deceive Internet users who are willing to buy with supposed offers. ESET security experts warn that caution is advised right now.
“Game consoles, smartphones and computers are the perennial favorites among Christmas presents for children. Parents try to fulfill these wishes of their offspring and quickly become careless. Cybercriminals are massively exploiting the currently low supply and high demand for these electronic devices,” says Thomas Uhlemann, Security Specialist at ESET. “These days, for example, spam emails are being sent with offers that link to fake shops where, for example, Playstation and Xbox are supposed to be available and of course arrive in time for Christmas. Users should be suspicious and check these shops very carefully before ordering from them.”
Caution! Scammers are lurking everywhere
Internet users should pay close attention, especially in the hot phase of the Christmas business. Fraudsters know that the last gifts are being shopped now. You try to lure users into a trap with supposed offers. If in doubt, it is better to wait before making a purchase. Fake shops in particular are very popular with criminals. Goods are offered here at very reasonable prices. However, after the ordering process, they do not deliver and the money is not returned. The number of these shops is currently increasing rapidly.
Phishing emails that claim to come from well-known and reputable retailers are also currently in circulation on a massive scale. The emails use targeted psychological tricks to motivate recipients to click on a link. This gives criminals access to personal data such as address, credit card information or email address. According to a survey by the “Germany Safe on the Internet” portal, 11.4 percent of those surveyed became victims of internet fraud in the past twelve months. Particular caution is currently required when purchasing electronic devices, as the demand is high and the supply is small. According to the current ESET survey, many parents still want to give their offspring a games console or smartphone this year.
Mobile devices, game consoles and notebooks are popular
Smartphones are number one on the gift list for parents this year: 13 percent want to give their offspring a digital companion. Game consoles such as Playstation, Nintendo and Xbox follow closely behind (12 percent). Tablets and notebooks (11 percent) come in third place.
Fathers are more likely to give electronic devices
Fathers give away electronic devices more than twice as often as mothers: 16 percent of them plan to buy their children a games console for Christmas. Fathers are also ahead when it comes to smartphones. Mothers, on the other hand, prefer to give away a tablet or notebook to their offspring. Two out of three mothers will not buy any electronic devices this year.
The best last minute shopping tips from ESET experts
- Secure connection is mandatory: Make sure that you have a secure connection. This is the only way the data is transmitted encrypted. You can easily recognize this by the padlock and the abbreviation “https” in the address bar.
- Make sure the shop is spelled correctly: Check whether the correct address of the online shop can be seen in the address bar. Otherwise it could be a fake shop.
- Check the shop carefully: Before buying, take a close look at the online shops and payment systems offered. Search for reviews from other users.
- Be careful with incredible bargains: Is the offer too good to be true? If this is the case, you should pay close attention. As a rule, these are counterfeit products or fake offers. If in doubt, you should check the internet to see whether the dealer is not already known as a black sheep.
- Don't be pressured: Expiring bars that supposedly indicate shrinking inventory are a popular marketing tool. It is usually not possible to tell whether 10 or even 1,000 items are still available. If you are unsure, it is better not to purchase.
- Keep your eyes open, even at Amazon & Co: Fraudsters are also lurking on well-known online platforms. Some third-party retailers require prior contact via email. In this case, customers should not put the goods in the shopping cart as usual, but rather transfer the money directly to the seller. The payment methods offered by the platform operator should not be used. Under no circumstances should you engage in such methods and refrain from purchasing them.
About the survey: The data used is based on an online survey by YouGov Deutschland GmbH on behalf of ESET, in which 2,079 people took part between November 19th, 2021 and November 22nd, 2021. The results were weighted and are representative of the German population aged 18 and over.
Source: Eset
Notes:
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