Google is warning Gmail users about five major frauds and spams that users get to witness during the holiday season. The technology giant has advised users to avoid gift card and giveaway scams, charity-related frauds, demographic targeting attacks, subscription renewal scams, and crypto-related frauds.
The search engine said in a blog post that it protects users from around 15 billion unwanted messages a day and blocks more than 99.9 percent of spam, phishing, and malware.
The company says, “Keep a look out for identity-based malicious emails, which may impersonate the local parent-teacher association’s board members or target certain age groups with fake emails.”
The search engine informs us that gift card and giveaway frauds are common during the peak holiday season. Fraudsters try to fool victims by enticing them into buying a gift card, by pretending to be a recognized and known contact, or by offering a free present in exchange for their credit card number.
A giveaway that offers more than what people usually expect can be a scam. Google also warned against phishing scams and charity-related frauds. These are harmful to both the victims of the scams and charities, which could benefit from the actual donations.
Moreover, the company warns that scams that involve membership renewal may create fake antivirus services to attract victims with the promise of increased security.
To prevent such scams, users must always check the sender’s email. If something appears to be wrong, then it might not be real.
Meanwhile, it was reported that Google is going to implement a performance improvement plan to gradually let go of 10,000 employees, multiple media reports suggest. The move is reportedly in response to pressure from an activist hedge fund, unfavorable market circumstances, and the need to reduce expenses. Employees who receive low- performance ratings will be let go.
The ratings may also be used by the new performance system to prevent giving out incentives and stock awards. Although Google has so far resisted the trend, over 135,000 white-collar workers in the tech and startup sectors will be laid off in 2022.
The holiday season is underway in the US, with Thanksgiving around the corner and Christmas next month. Google is aware that this is the best time for scammers to get active and con users through various methods. In a blog post, Google revealed that in the last two weeks, it has blocked over 231 billion spam and phishing messages, a number that was 10% higher than the average volume. Further, Google has also shared a quick response to the scam emails on Gmail and other red flags to watch out for.
Here are some common scams that may be doing the rounds on Gmail:
Be aware of those gift cards and giveaways.
Google says that this time of the year, scammers may attempt to trick people into purchasing a gift card for them, sometimes using the guise of a known contact or dangling a free prize in exchange for sharing their credit card information. If an email arrives from a known person from anywhere to buy a gift card, think twice before clicking on it. It says that if a giveaway looks too good to be true, it just may be fraudulent.
Don’t get too ‘charitable’
In the blog post, Google points out that charity-related scams and phishing attempts get worse this time of year, hurting both those who fall prey to the scams and the charities that would have benefited from the giving. Even if you want to donate to a charity, don’t do it with anyone who asks for money to be sent directly to them rather than the organization.
Renew those subscriptions carefully.
In Google Notes, chances are there might be a few subscription plans that are up for renewal. A particularly unwelcome version of these emails spoofs antivirus services, which lure victims with the promise of improved security. There might be scammers who make fake messages look convincing. In such cases, always check for the sender’s email; if it looks off, it may be fraudulent.
Google also has “three golden rules” for users to stay safe from scams
1. Slow it down: Scams are often designed to create a sense of urgency. Take time to ask questions and think it through.
2. Spot check: Do your research to double-check the details you are getting. Does what they’re telling you make sense?
3. Stop! Don’t send: No reputable person or agency will ever demand payment or your personal information on the spot.
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