Black Friday, Holiday Shopping and Beyond: Protect Your Identity Even Through the Means of Thwarting Dumpster Divers!
From the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Black Friday Shopping: Protect Your Identity: “Black Friday is one of the most lucrative shopping days of the year for retailers in brick-and-mortar shops and online, but shoppers aren't the only ones looking for deals. Malicious people may be able to obtain personal information (such as credit card numbers, phone numbers, account numbers, and addresses) by stealing your wallet, overhearing a phone conversation, rummaging through your trash (a practice known as dumpster diving), or picking up a receipt at a restaurant that has your account number on it. If a thief has enough information, he or she may be able to impersonate you to purchase items, open new accounts, or apply for loans.
“The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) encourages holiday shoppers to take the following identity theft precautions:
- Take advantage of security features. Passwords and other security features add layers of protection if used appropriately. (See Choosing and Protecting Passwords.)
- Check privacy policies. Take precautions when providing information, and make sure to check published privacy policies to see how a company will use or distribute your information. (See Protecting Your Privacy.)
- Check your statements. Keep a record of your purchases and copies of confirmation pages, and compare them to your bank statements. If there is a discrepancy, report it immediately.
- Be careful what information you publicize. Attackers may be able to piece together information from a variety of sources. Avoid posting personal data in public forums. (See Staying Safe on Social Networking Sites.)”
Online Holiday Shopping Scams
With more commerce occurring online this year, and with the holiday season upon us, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) reminds shoppers to remain vigilant. Be especially cautious of fraudulent sites spoofing reputable businesses, unsolicited emails purporting to be from charities, and unencrypted financial transactions.
CISA encourages online holiday shoppers to review the following resources.
- CISA’s Online Shopping Tip
- CISA’s Holiday Online Shopping page
- CISA’s Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks Tip
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) ‘Tis the Season for Holiday Online Shopping Scams - Don't Be a Victim Announcement
If you believe you are a victim of a scam, consider the following actions.
- Report the incident to your local police, and file online reports at the Federal Trade Commission’s Report Fraud page and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) page.
- Watch for unexpected or unexplained charges to your account. If any appear, contact your financial institution immediately and close any accounts that may have been compromised. See CISA’s Preventing and Responding to Identity Theft Tip for more information.
- Change any passwords you might have revealed immediately. Avoid reusing passwords. See CISA’s Choosing and Protecting Passwords Tip for more information.
This product is provided subject to this Notification and this Privacy & Use policy.
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