Valentine’s Day is usually a time we share chocolate and love with those near and dear to us. Whether you’re trying to make a new connection on an online dating platform or shopping for sweets and gifts online, it’s important to be aware of common scam tactics that can be more popular this time of the year.
Online shopping safety
Online shopping is a convenient way to find things you want to buy. This Valentine’s Day and throughout the season of love, be mindful of the online stores you visit. Fake stores, known as spoofed websites, are made by cyber criminals who want to steal your information and money. They are designed to look and feel like legitimate online stores. Although spoofed websites can look real, there are some common tactics used to help spot them.
Here are some tips to help you spot a spoofed website:
- Typos or spelling errors in the web address bar
- Blurry or disfigured images
- A missing locked padlock icon on the left side of the address bar. Typically if the padlock is there, that suggests that a site is secure
- A missing “s” at the end of “https”. The letter “s” stands for ‘secure’ and if it’s missing it means the site is not secure
- Unsecure payment options being offered, such as e-transfer and cryptocurrency
- The privacy or return policy is difficult to find or not present on the site
- Sales are too good to be true
- Buzzwords like “limited time offer” or “exclusive sale” are being used excessively to pressure purchases
It’s important to keep in mind that even secure websites with padlock icons and without typos can still be spoofed sites. If something seems off or too good to be true, it’s best to continue your search and look for other online retailers.
Romance scams
The online dating scene can be a great way to meet people, but it’s also become a key place for cyber criminals to take advantage of victims looking to make new connections online. Profiles that seem overwhelmingly impressive can be cyber criminals using fake accounts to try and trick you. This is more commonly known as a catfish. A romance scam starts with a catfisher building a fake relationship with an individual to trick them into providing money or personal information. These catfishers invest time into their targets and their stories, providing convincing details about why they need information or money. Some of their stories may include:
- needing money for important business-related matters
- buying a plane ticket or other travel-related expenses to meet
- needing money for urgent healthcare like medical bills
- having debt
Catfishers will use the relationship they have built over time (which can vary from a few weeks to months, or even years) to try and to make the individual feel guilty or ashamed for not complying with their requests. Here are the most common signs of a catfish:
- They refuse to meet in person or video call
- They don’t share many images of themself, including on on other social platforms
- They recently created their account and don’t have a lot of activity, posts or friends
- They seem move very fast into wanting a relationship or professing their love
- They try to isolate you from people who have doubts about your virtual relationship
How to protect yourself
Just like when you are shopping in-person, it is always best to shop with well-known stores online. It’s important to take these steps to help avoid being tricked by an untrustworthy online store.
- Keep an eye out for websites asking for too much or unnecessary information (ex: your SIN number)
- Never save your financial information in your web browser so it isn’t placed in the wrong hands if your device is ever shared, lost or stolen
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) when you need to use public Wi-Fi to help secure any sensitive information being handled
- Check your credit card statements regularly for fraudulent charges and signal any suspicious activity to your financial institution
And before having your heart struck by Cupids bow, take the following precautions when entering into an online conversation.
- Keep an eye out for the type of questions they are asking you (like the city you were born in or your birthday)
- These little pieces of information are often used in security questions protecting your sensitive accounts
- Be suspicious of individuals professing their love for you after a short period of time or someone asking you for money for an urgent situation
- Secure all your accounts with strong passwords and passphrases
- Use a password manager to help create, remember and secure your passwords and passphrases
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all your devices, when available
Conclusion
Valentine’s Day can be an exciting time of the year, but it’s important to protect yourself (and your heart) from cyber threats. Be cautious when browsing online stores or striking up conversations on online dating platforms. Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of cyber crime or fraud should report it to their local police and to the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre’s (CAFC) online reporting system. Swipe safely this Valentine’s Day and be thoughtful of the websites you visit, just like your gifts!