Avoid Mother's Month Scams: Five Expert Tips to Protect Yourself from Cybercriminals
With the arrival of May, one of the most important shopping seasons in Colombia due to the celebration of Mother's Day, online sales register a significant increase. According to figures from the Colombian Chamber of Electronic Commerce, online transactions increase by up to 30 percent during this month. This dynamic boosts digital commerce, but is also exploited by cybercriminals seeking to deceive unsuspecting users.
(Read also: Real estate fraud: how to avoid it? ).
The risk of falling prey to digital fraud increases during busy shopping periods. In this context, methods such as purchases from fake stores, links to fraudulent promotions, and identity theft via emails or text messages become more common.
Faced with this situation, OlimpIA, a company specializing in digital trust, warns of the need to adopt preventive measures. “Special celebrations, such as Mother's Day, are often accompanied by an increase in digital transactions, which also opens the door to potential cyber threats. Protecting yourself starts with being well-informed and adopting habits such as avoiding public Wi-Fi networks when making payments and using multi-factor authentication,” explained Ricardo Pulgarín, the company's cybersecurity director.
Shoppers can become targets of electronic scams or identity theft. Photo: iStock
To promote a culture of self-protection in the digital environment, especially during this season, the expert shared five practical recommendations to minimize risks:
- Verify the authenticity of websites: Before making a purchase, make sure the site starts with "https://" and offers reliable payment methods. This helps avoid fraudulent websites that pretend to be legitimate businesses.
- Avoid sharing sensitive information through unsecured channels: Don't send personal or banking information via social media, text messages, or instant messaging apps. These practices are common in phishing schemes.
- Enable multi-factor authentication: For emails, trading platforms, and banking apps, this adds an extra layer of security and reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
- Promote a culture of digital security at home and at work: It's crucial to raise awareness, especially among older adults, who may be more susceptible to phishing messages or emotional scams.
- Keep your devices updated and protected: Installing operating system updates and using reliable antivirus software helps close security holes that could be exploited by attackers.
It's important to protect your digital environment, especially on special occasions. Photo: iStock
On a day dedicated to paying tribute and sharing with loved ones, it's also essential to take care of your digital environment. Small actions like checking links before clicking, using strong passwords, and being wary of promotions that seem too good to be true can make the difference between a safe purchase and an unfortunate experience.
Enabling multi-factor authentication is one of the key tips. Photo: iStock
*This content was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from OlimpIA, and reviewed by the journalist and an editor.
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