Cybercriminals love a good party. From Mother's Day to Christmas, they are always on the prowl every time there is a holiday. Therefore, you can't be too careful to avoid cyber scams.

With the huge increase in the volume of internet shopping, criminals know that this is a good time to strike. But some good practices can ensure that you are safer when giving gifts to your mother.

In this article, we'll look at some tips on how to avoid Mother's Day cyber scams. Check it out!

Why do cyber scams work?

Browsing online via smartphones and tablets can help consumers stay on top of retail offers without having to face long lines at physical stores. However, cybercriminals know that consumers are more likely to visit these retail sites on commemorative dates such as Mother's Day. And when it comes to online shopping, the scams are constantly evolving.

There are numerous reasons why cyber scams work so well, starting with the scammers' ability to play mind tricks on victims. Moreover, there are several ways to take the bait: accessing public Wi-Fi, logging into a fake website, or clicking on a link with an email promising exclusive offers for Mother's Day. It is impossible to list all the cases. Scammers may also use tempting offers, such as complimentary gifts, to lure users.

It is important to note that cybercriminals are not only looking for credit card data or financial information. Many are trying to gain access to your email accounts, WhatsApp or social networks - and, from there, perform scams on your network of friends.

The importance of being suspicious of what is "too good to be true

Without a doubt, the use of gimmicks to trick people into accessing their data - a practice known as phishing - is a major threat to users browsing for good Mother's Day gifts.

According to a report published by Kaspersky, one in five Brazilians suffered at least one phishing attack attempt in 2020. The statistic places Brazil as the world leader in scams of this category.

With the evolution of the internet and the means of communication, there are countless ways that can be exploited by fraudsters to put this into practice: fake ads, sending e-mails with fraudulent links, fake profiles on social networks, among others.

If worst comes to worst, you'll end up with malware reaching your device, which can cause all sorts of havoc - from stealing your sensitive data to locking your device. Scammers tend to be careless and are looking for a high volume of victims, so always keep your eyes open for anything suspicious, such as prices that don't make sense (you're probably not buying a state-of-the-art TV for $500), grammatical errors, or suspicious searches.

10 Tips to Avoid Mother's Day Cyber Scams

Just being aware and wary of unrealistic offers is already a great exercise in avoiding Mother's Day cyber scams. And here are a few more tips that will help you stay protected:

1. Always check that the offer actually exists on the company's website and/or social networks;

If you come across any extremely tempting offers, one way to avoid falling for scams is to check other communication channels of the brand, such as social networks, to see if the offered promotion is really being advertised.

2. Give preference to buying from reliable and reputable sites;

According to research by PayPal and BigDataCorp, in 2021, online commerce will register more than 1.59 million virtual stores. This scenario reveals that the trend of online shopping is increasingly strong, and the consumer, more than ever, has an infinite range of options from your computer or cell phone. But this amount of offers also requires attention in order not to fall into scams. Besides opting for sites and e-commerces already known in the market, some alternatives to check if the page is reliable is to check the reputation of the store on sites such as Reclame Aqui and use Google Face Browsing, for example.

3. Be wary of tempting and seemingly unrealistic offers;

There are promotions, and there are unrealistic offers. So to protect yourself from scams, common sense is also essential - especially if you want to present your mother with a high value-added good. If you want to buy a television, for example, you should research the average market price. Any offer that is too different from the average value should generate mistrust. Remember: a good promotion is one that makes sense within the market reality.

4. Don't click on links in suspicious emails - even if they come from a trusted sender;

Always check the sender's address before any click. Fake e-mails usually have different domains than the real e-commerces, and may also have Portuguese mistakes. Stay tuned!

5. Keep an eye out for fake websites posing as another company;

The number of fake websites that imitate the real ones, especially those of big brands, is large. Therefore, a good way to avoid falling for scams is to watch out for some signs, such as, for example, some different character in the URL of the website and Portuguese mistakes.

6. Check the company's social networks;

The logic is simple: if the store is running a super promotion, it wants as many people as possible to know about it, right? Consequently, social media would be used to give more visibility to the offer. If the social networks do not mention any such action, be suspicious!

7. Keep your antivirus up to date;

The tactics of cybercriminals are improved on a daily basis, and so are antivirus products. So keep yours activated and updated to ensure more security while browsing. You can select the automatic update option, or else update at least every week.

8. Don't register your data in sites you don't know and trust;

Data theft is one of the goals of cybercriminals on commemorative dates such as Mother's Day. Therefore, your personal data should be protected, and only provided when you really know and trust the website in question.

9. Check the URL carefully for any typos or inaccuracies;

Fake websites have some traces that can be observed by those careful to analyze the signs that indicate a scam. URL addresses similar to the original e-commerce site but with subtle changes in the store name are one example. If you notice any inaccuracies, leave the site and enter the real e-commerce site.

10. When shopping in a public place, use your 3G/4G connection instead of public Wi-Fi.

Public Internet networks are more susceptible to attacks by cybercriminals. Criminals intercept your access and thus gain access to sensitive data. So whenever you are in a public place and need to use your internet banking or shopping, give preference to your 3G/4G connection.

Did you like the tips to avoid Mother's Day cyber scams? Did you have any questions? Leave your comment!