One in five Canadians have been scammed on Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, according to new research from NordVPN.
On Marie Montpetit’s microphone and via QUB radio, a cybersecurity expert warns of these famous “serendipities” that are often too good to be true.
“If it’s too good to be true, it’s not true. So put your phone aside, make yourself some coffee, come back, and sanity will set in. It is like it is. We have to analyze it,” says Steve Waterhouse.
- Listen to the interview with Steve Waterhouse, cybersecurity expert, on Marie Montpetit’s show about QUB radio :
The latter highlights the large number of people looking for bargains during this time and presents an ideal opportunity for fraudsters.
He explains that the rise of online shopping is contributing to this boom, as consumers find themselves on sometimes dubious virtual platforms. Mr Waterhouse warns against the urge to spend impulsively, pointing out that fraudsters often target products that can be delivered by post, such as those from e-commerce giants.
It encourages caution and foresight and invites consumers not to give in to these more than tempting offers. In terms of prevention, the cybersecurity expert recommends sharing information with those around you, checking the reputation of websites before purchasing and reporting suspicious activity to the Canadian Fraud Centre.