Christmas is just around the corner, a time that many of us associate with relaxation, seeing family, shopping online, and the various types of lotteries that take place during this season. At this time of year, crowds, lack of time, and household chores can push us to shop online a lot to lighten our workload and free up some extra time.
It is also at this time of year that some scammers make a killing by taking advantage of our enthusiasm for the various special draws offering large cash prizes. The basket at the corner bar, the car insurance draw, or even the office raffle. In addition to physical locations, we often click our mouse to participate in raffles and draws on the Internet.
To be more specific, one of the most commonly used strategies is to send you an email informing you that you have won a lottery prize and that in order to collect it, you need to provide your bank details. That moment when you are filled with excitement.
The email address to which you are asked to send your personal details (ID number, bank account number, etc.) is fake, and if you do as requested, once they have your details, they can steal your identity and quickly empty your bank account.
Remember that if you have not participated in the draw, it is impossible for you to have won any prize in state lotteries and bets.
To avoid the most common scams, we recommend:
- Do not send your bank details by email or SMS.
- Be wary of offers where the price seems too good to be true.
- When shopping online, make sure you only enter your personal details on trusted websites, i.e. websites whose address begins with https://
- Use secure payment methods.
If you have been the victim of an online scam, please contact us.
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