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Beware 12 Scams of Christmas
Online schemes take advantage of the holiday spirit
By John Johnson
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Posted Nov 21, 09 3:12 PM CST
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(Newser)
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The holiday season brings out the best in online scammers. CNET runs down common schemes to beware of, courtesy of McAfee:
- Fake delivery invoices: They look like legit emails from UPS, Federal Express, and the like, asking for address confirmation and credit card info to ensure delivery.
- Holiday e-cards: Make sure you know the site before opening. This is a great way to get malware and all manners of unwanted advertising.
- Charity phishing: Again, appearances are deceiving, even if the email looks like it's from a real charity.
- Fake friend requests: If these come by email, steer clear. Best to friend someone directly on Facebook or whatever service you're using.
- Christmas carols: Or at least, searching for them. Scammers create fake sites to lure people looking for holiday music or related media.
- Luxury jewelry offers: Follow that wise old adage: If it's too good to be true, it probably is. Even if the site sports a real-looking Better Business Bureau logo.
For the full list, click
here.