Email fraud could be the biggest online security fraud this Black Friday – here’s how to stay safe
Cyber security company Evidence point has warned that US shoppers are at high risk of falling victim to email fraud as Black Friday reaches its peak, and has laid the blame on retailers.
In fact, the survey shows that more than half of the 50 largest online retailers in the US are not taking appropriate measures to protect their consumers from email fraud and cybercrime.
With email authentication and verification measures recently making headlines, the survey found that a further 12% had not even implemented a DMARC record.
Retailers are putting consumers at risk, the report said
Proofpoint cites a third-party study showing that consumers spend an average of $875 on major holiday items, including gifts, decorations and food. This year, holiday retail is expected to generate approximately $960 billion.
In addition, Ny Breaking has done a lot of research into cybercrime during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Some studies show that attackers spend the entire year preparing for this season.
The already hectic weekend is the perfect cover for threat actors to use pressure tactics to persuade victims to reveal sensitive information.
Group VP and GM for Sender Security and Authentication at Proofpoint, Robert Holmes, said: “The influx of emails from brands offering great deals during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping period makes it an opportune time for cybercriminals to take advantage of the spike in email traffic and target shoppers with creative and persuasive lures and scams.”
Internal research found that a third of Americans view trusted branding as sufficient proof that an email is secure.
Now more than ever, the run-up to Christmas is a time to focus on cybersecurity best practices. Proofpoint emphasizes the need to be aware of imitation sites, unreliable links and any collection of sensitive data, and urges customers to verify this before making a purchase.