The busy holiday season includes an increase in online shopping and travel. Unfortunately, this also increases the opportunities for online criminals to take advantage of you.

In 2022, the FBI received 12,000 reports totaling $73 million in losses during the holidays. These scams take a variety of forms and often attempt to impersonate the legitimate stores and delivery services we rely on.

First off, be careful of ads on social media. Scammers know they can easily hide their intentions and get you to click. That offer with the great price that sounds too good to be true? That link to the viral gift that is out of stock at your favorite retailer? Expect your social media feeds to be flooded with fake brands and influencer giveaways that are going to steal your personal information or install malware on your device.

Your email account is a prime target. Scammers constantly study legitimate business communications to create a version that serves the scammer’s purpose. You might receive what looks like a legitimate email asking for confirmation of your shipping address or delivery preferences.

You may receive a “payment denied” notice that asks you to purchase a gift card online. You will also likely see fake gift exchanges or Secret Santa offers. Charity appeals will target your emotions and desire to do good. Do not click any link – use your program’s built-in tools to report and identify these messages as junk.

You may also receive text messages that claim there is a problem with a delivery and ask you to reschedule, update an address, or pay a small additional fee. A message may appear to be from your bank warning of suspicious activity or asking to confirm a recent purchase.

Again, the scammer counts on you to interact with the message. Instead, keep track of your orders and tracking numbers by visiting the legitimate website on your own. If there is a payment problem, you can easily confirm through the credit card’s website or a call to customer service.

For those traveling, avoid activities like online banking, entering credit card numbers, or checking work email. If possible, avoid using Wi-Fi and make use of your phone’s data plan instead. If you must use Wi-Fi, be aware that scammers at airports and hotels will often set up fake networks with names like the real one. Confirm the name and login procedure with an official employee.

If you anticipate using Wi-Fi while on the road, setup and familiarize yourself with a virtual private network, better known as a VPN. Use a reputable paid VPN service that is compatible with your device.

Finally, don’t use public charging stations; there is a chance that it has been compromised to steal data. Only use your own power bank or charger plugged directly into a wall outlet.

Take the time now to ensure your online safety before the busy-ness hits and your attention and critical thinking skills are not at their best. Use strong passwords and multifactor authentication. Keep your software up to date. You will give your future self the gift of being free to enjoy all the holidays have to offer.

Interested in one-on-one technology assistance? John Marte is a digital resources associate with Grand County Library District. Contact him at jmarte@gcld.org.