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Shopping Season Scams

Background

“Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” mark the beginning of the Christmas shopping season for many households around the world. Many retailers in Ghana are running one promotion or the other to drive sales. With the increasing availability of digital shopping channels, the CSA anticipates a surge in the number of shopping scams such as fake online shops and malware attacks.

Modus Operandi

Online Fraud

Malicious actors create online profiles to promote and sell non-existent goods at very affordable prices. They ask potential buyers to make upfront payments to mobile money wallets with names not related to the shop or even the seller. After receiving payment, they don’t deliver the goods, and they subsequently block the buyer from communicating with them.

Phishing by fake websites and apps

Phishing is a tactic that malicious actors use to deceive people into disclosing their personal information e.g. debit/credit card number or account password by getting them to click on malicious links cloaked in official-looking emails, attachments, and logos that lead to impersonated websites of popular brands like Amazon or Alibaba.

Recommendation

  • Be on the lookout for fake online shops and hyped adverts, especially on Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram.
  • Do due diligence on any shopping site before purchasing items online.
  • As much as possible only shop from reputable and well-known online stores and stay away from websites you have never heard about.
  • Do payments on delivery rather than making payments with the assurance that the goods purchased will be delivered.
  • Be cautious of proposals and deals including those shared by email, that seem too good to be true no matter how appealing they appear.

Contact the Cyber Security Authority

The CSA has a 24-hour Cybersecurity/Cybercrime Incident Reporting Points of Contact (PoC) for reporting cybercrimes and for seeking clarification and guidance on online links and transactions;Call or Text – 292, WhatsApp – 0501603111, Email – report@csa.gov.gh

Issued by Cyber Security Authority
November 23, 2022