A COSTLY Christmas con that strikes over email, text, or phone calls could empty out your bank account.
The cruel scam has been branded “despicable” by cybersecurity experts speaking to The Sun.
It’s known as an “affinity scam”, and works by online crooks pretending to be associated with charities.
The scam is common at Christmas, but keep in mind that you can be targeted at any time of the year.
“An affinity scam takes advantage of victims’ generosity during the holidays,” said Paul Bischoff, speaking to The Sun.
Paul, a security and privacy advocate at Comparitech, explained the crooks could target you on any device.
But the goal is always the same: to trick you into handing over cash.
“Scammers pose as charities to trick victims into giving them money. It can happen online or over the phone,” Paul explained.
“Again, watch out for odd forms of payment. Take the initiative, do your own research on charities you want to give to, and seek them out directly. Don’t give money to solicitors.”
Christmas is a major period for donating to charities.
Brits are expected to hand over as much as £2.8 billion to charities during November and December this year, according to the Charities Aid Foundation.
“November and December are typically the peak months for giving, when the highest number of people say they give to charity,” the CAF explained.
“This coincides with Christmas charity campaigns, and events such as Giving Tuesday, Children in Need and the Poppy Appeal.
“Some charities rely on their Christmas fundraising to fund their work for the following year.”
Crooks know this and use it to their advantage.
They’ll set up fake charities – or even pose as real ones that you’re familiar with – in a bid to part you from your cash.
“Fake charity scams are my most despised scams,” said Chris Hauk, consumer privacy champion at Pixel Privacy, speaking to The Sun.
“Bad actors impersonate well-known charities and individuals in need.
“If contacted, don’t allow yourself to be pressured into immediately making a ‘donation’.
“Always verify a charity before considering a donation, and only donate to charities through their website, and always use a credit card to make it easier to recover your funds if it is a scam.”
Here's the official advice from the UK's Action Fraud...
Picture Credit: Unsplash
Often the best way to avoid a charity scam is to follow the same advice for dodging other online cons.
For instance, be wary of unsolicited messages or calls – especially if they’re asking for money or info.
Don’t click random links that you’ve been sent, avoid paying for services with gift cards, and always communicate with companies using their official websites or apps.
