As the holiday season approaches, cybercriminals intensify their efforts to mislead Russians who, caught in the pre-New Year rush, make quick judgments and lose focus. This warning came from Tatyana Kosheleva, a senior analyst responsible for audits and assessment of information security compliance at UCSB, in a conversation with the 360 TV channel. The message is clear: the festive period is a prime time for fraudsters to exploit alarm clocks that are set too high and the speed of decision making that comes with holiday shopping.
During these moments, people are less vigilant about online threats, and attackers look for openings to break into work accounts or personal wallets. They entice users with promises of special offers, store discounts, and tempting promotions crafted to trigger impulsive purchases.
Fraudsters may lure people into clicking links that claim to reveal annual bonuses, prompt registration on a shopping site to receive rewards, or intercept payment details such as card verification codes or passcodes sent via SMS when making online purchases. In addition, criminals frequently create counterfeit online stores that boast astonishing discounts or phishing pages that mimic legitimate logins, all designed to steal sensitive personal information.
Put plainly, during the New Year holidays, attackers will try to ride the wave of everyone’s holiday mood, the rush to decide, and the heightened demand that comes with the season. Kosheleva underscored that context matters: the festive atmosphere often shortens reaction time and reduces critical scrutiny, creating fertile ground for scams.
Experts advise exercising caution with any seemingly lucrative offers. Before committing to a purchase, it is wise to pause, verify the legitimacy of the promotion, and consult reliable sources. It is also prudent to avoid using primary bank cards for online transactions when possible and to double-check the security of the sites involved.
It is worth noting that scammers are not limited to one tactic. There are those who employ voice phishing, attempting to lure money by impersonating trusted authorities or service providers over the phone or through chat channels. Such techniques have grown more common as criminals seek to exploit gaps in user awareness and the hurried pace of holiday shopping.
From a broader standpoint, the risk landscape during the holidays is shaped by the convergence of increased online activity, convenient but risky promotions, and the natural human inclination to act quickly when confronted with compelling deals. Keeping a cool head, verifying offers through official channels, and safeguarding credentials are essential steps for anyone navigating the online marketplace during peak shopping times. [Source: UCSB advisor on information security compliance, Kosheleva]