Read Time:1 Minute, 44 Second
Online criminals use shoppers’ eagerness for a bargain against them by promising a discount in exchange for personal information.
According to research from NordVPN, 93% of people would hand over personal data if offered a bonus gift or discount.
This includes sharing personal information like their tax file number, employment history, and children’s names.
NordVPN’s Chief Technology Officer Marijus Briedis said Black Friday is a “honeypot for scammers”.
“Always check for security certificates on websites, and be careful of any that require too much information,” Briedis said.
“Be wary of offers that look too good to be true.”
“Hackers are notorious for stealing people’s hard-earned money, so it’s important to only shop with well-known retailers. In addition, never browse on public wi-fi without a VPN and always be careful with personal information. These simple steps can make online shopping a fun and safe experience for everyone.”
The study has found that a staggering seven million Australians have been scammed while shopping online.
That’s almost one in six of us.
The research, which NordVPN commissioned, found that scammers have targeted 56% of people on the internet. Of those targeted, 43% had shared personal details with fraudsters at least once, while 26% did so on multiple occasions.
One in two have been victims of fraud in the last three years.
The survey also found that 96% of Australians have shopped online at some point, and 45% prefer to shop on their mobiles than using a computer.
Perhaps most worryingly, nearly half of the people gave out personal details to unlock free shipping or a discount.
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has issued guidance on how best to protect yourself when shopping online.
Having unbreakable and distinctive passwords is more critical than ever.
Before making any online purchase, always check for the padlock symbol and “https” domain name to ensure maximum security.
According to the office, you should abstain from filling in optional fields on online forms. If you encounter strange or dubious activity in your transaction history, phone your bank at once.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
