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Gmail


5 SCAMS TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Nov 22, 2022

4 min read

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Gmail helps block these and countless other malicious and unwanted campaigns to
help keep you safe and secure online.

N
Nelson Bradley
Manager, Google Workspace Trust & Safety
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From gathering to gifting, decorating to donating, holiday schedules tend to
fill up fast. The last thing anyone wants to do is deal with tricksters,
including spammers and scammers, who aim to steal your online account
information and money.

These con artists are pesky and persistent during the best of times, but during
the holiday season their behavior is even more extreme. That’s why we have a
dedicated team of Googlers who work around the clock to thwart these uninvited
guests. We protect Gmail users from nearly 15 billion unwanted messages a day,
blocking more than 99.9% of spam, phishing and malware. But malicious actors
don’t slow down during the holiday season — they accelerate. In the past two
weeks alone, we blocked over 231 billion spam and phishing messages, 10% higher
than the average volume.

So to help you be extra vigilant this holiday season, here is a quick guide to
the types of emails and the red flags to watch out for:


1. GIFT CARDS AND GIVEAWAYS.

When the shopping season is in full swing, gift card and giveaway scams are too.
Scammers may attempt to trick people into purchasing a gift card for them —
sometimes using the guise of a known contact — or dangle a free prize in
exchange for sharing their credit card information. If you receive an email from
your friend in Prague or Pennsylvania asking you to buy them a gift card, send
them a quick text to confirm they really sent the request. And if a giveaway
looks too good to be true, it just may be fraudulent.

Received an offer that looks too good to be true? Think twice before clicking
any links.


2. CHARITIES.

Attackers don’t show any restraint during the season of giving. In fact,
charity-related scams and phishing attempts get worse this time of year, hurting
both those who fall prey to the scams and the charities that would have
benefited from the giving. Whether it’s a supposed charity tied to a subject in
the news, or an organization with a familiar name, be on the lookout for anyone
asking you to contact them on their personal email or send money to them
directly.




3. DEMOGRAPHIC TARGETING.

Some of the most pernicious scams are the most specifically targeted to you.
These scams might seem more personal because they include some specific element
of your life or identity. Whether it’s spoofing communications from local PTA
board members or sending fraudulent emails targeted at specific age groups, keep
your eyes open for identity-based malicious emails this holiday season.




4. SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS.

As we approach the end of the year, subscription renewal scams can spike. A
particularly unwelcome version of these emails spoof antivirus services, which
lure victims with the promise of improved security. While some scammers can make
their message look very convincing, always be sure to check the sender’s email.
If it looks off, it may be fraudulent.




5. CRYPTO SCAMS.

A whole class of scams to itself, crypto-based scams can run rampant this time
of year. A common variation of these scams uses a cryptocurrency wallet to
collect payment and often attempts to extort funds from a victim through a
threat. Gmail may warn you of these nonsensical requests, but it’s also
important to know how to spot them so you can steer clear of falling victim to
these types of scams. Some big red flags include typos, email addresses that
seem off, or demands for payment.



While the range of malicious activities might seem dizzying, the good news is
that Gmail helps block these and countless other malicious and unwanted
campaigns. Digital safeguards in Gmail, including advanced phishing and malware
controls, are tuned on by default, which help ensure you are protected. And
while this is a dynamic, unending challenge, our tools and security experts are
constantly scouring the data to spot new attack methods, and building new,
sophisticated protections to help keep you safe. Learn more on our website about
the protections built into Gmail, and consider following these golden rules to
avoid becoming a victim of a holiday scam:

 * Slow it down. Scams are often designed to create a sense of urgency. Take
   time to ask questions and think it through.
 * Spot check. Do your research to double check the details you are getting.
   Does what they’re telling you make sense?
 * Stop! Don’t send. No reputable person or agency will ever demand payment or
   your personal information on the spot.

POSTED IN:
 * Gmail
 * Safety & Security

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