Holidays are prime opportunities for cyberattacks and online scams, as people tend to be busier and more distracted. Valentine’s Day is particularly risky: couples are hunting for the perfect gifts, while singles may be searching for a connection, creating the perfect environment for scammers to exploit.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s important to stay alert. This season of love often comes with low awareness and high trust, making it a hotspot for phishing scams. Protect yourself and remain vigilant — it’s not all hearts and roses out there.
Common Valentine’s Day phishing scams
Phishing scamshave come a long way over the decades, and advanced technology has made them more effective and convincing than ever. Here are some of the favorite schemes scammers unleash around Valentine's:
Romance scams
Romance scams involve fraudsters creating fake profiles on social media or dating platforms, using attractive photos and convincing stories to build trust. Once they establish an emotional connection with a potential victim, they fabricate emergencies or investment opportunities to solicit money.
But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Sometimes, these scammers also aim higher, targeting login information for the victim’s company’s network, proprietary information, or even classified government information.
Fake eCards and eGifts
Be cautious of emails claiming to include Valentine's Day eCards or eGifts from secret admirers. These are often scams containing malicious links or attachments intended to steal your personal information or infect your device with malware.
Phony deals and discounts
Much like during the Black Friday season, scammers take advantage of Valentine’s Day shopping when people are looking for deals on gifts. They create fake discounts and promotions, often delivered through phishing emails or fraudulent websites.
If you fall for these schemes and make a payment through a fake portal or sign up for a bogus program, scammers can gain access to your personal and financial information. With this data, they may steal your identity or even use it to extort you, potentially coercing you into participating in further scams, such as those targeting your employer or business.
How to protect yourself from Valentine’s Day phishing scams
Don’t let the heightened emotions during Valentine’s season cause you to drop your guard. Follow these guidelines to stay protected:
- Use email filtering tools to prevent scam emails from reaching your inbox in the first place.
- Check the sender, subject line, and content of any suspicious email. Always hover over email links to check their legitimacy, and never open attachments from unknown senders.
- Double-check websites and promotional materials for credibility. Watch out for spelling errors, sloppy grammar, and outdated or unpolished designs that could indicate they’re a scam.
- Be wary of any limited-time offers or impending deadlines. Scammers often try to pressure you into acting by claiming that time is running out.
- Avoid sharing personal or financial information over the phone unless you initiated the call and are completely certain of the recipient's identity. Scammers can effortlessly disguise their phone numbers to appear as though they're from a trusted source.
- Be mindful of the privacy settings on your social media accounts. Avoid sharing too much personal information publicly and regularly review who has access to your posts and profile. This will help limit the chances of scammers using your information for fraudulent activities.
- If you suspect you are being targeted at your workplace, report to your IT department or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
- Monitor your financial statements for the month to ensure there are no unauthorized transactions.
Need advanced cybersecurity protection for your business?
If cyberthreats get you nervous about the security and survivability of your business, contact XBASE Technologies. Our team of experienced cybersecurity consultants will put your worries to rest.
We’ll recommend, implement, configure, monitor, and maintain the advanced cybersecurity tools that best meet your needs and help create policies that protect your organization from even the most advanced cyberattacks and scams. Get in touch with us now!