Holiday Rush, Cyber Hush: Staying Safe Amid Year-End Frauds
The holiday season brings busy shopping, travel and last-minute rushes — and with that comes distraction. Scammers exploit urgency and familiarity with look-alike messages, fake alerts, and tempting offers. A single unchecked click can expose your personal or payment information. Pause, verify, and think before you act.
How Holiday Scams Usually Work:
Messages may appear genuine, using familiar logos, simple language and well-known brand names. Some common patterns people have reported include:
- Delivery-Related Alerts: Messages suggesting a courier is delayed, “flagged” or needs quick confirmation. Clicking the link may lead to a fake website designed to look legitimate.
- QR Code Cashback Offers: Messages that say “scan to receive money.” Scanning the code may trigger a payment or redirect it to a fraudulent page.
- Unbelievable Discounts: Websites offering unusually high discounts on phones, travel packages or gadgets. Payments may go through, but confirmations—or the product itself—may never follow.
- Account Warning Emails: Alerts from “banks” or “service providers” warning that an account may be blocked unless verified immediately. These often ask for an OTP.
- Free Gift Messages: Claims of free smartphones or festive hampers that require a small “fee” or personal details to claim them, often resulting in financial loss or data theft instead of any reward.
Smart Habits to Stay Cyber Smart: Ruko, Socho, Action Lo!
- Avoid clicking on unknown or forwarded links. Visit the official app or website.
- Do not scan QR codes sent by strangers. Receiving money does not require scanning anything.
- Never share OTPs, banking details, personal information or card information. Banks or courier companies do not ask for them.
- Enable two-factor authentication for an added layer of protection.
Final Word
Scammers do not always rely on complex methods; instead, they rely on people acting hastily without verifying. This holiday season, pause for a moment and look twice before you click, pay or scan.
If you think you have been targeted by a scam, call the National Cyber Fraud Helpline at 1930 or submit a complaint online at cybercrime.gov.in.
FedEx continues to support cyber awareness and education initiatives that endeavor to help consumers, small businesses, and communities operate securely in today’s fast-moving digital economy. For more information on how you can combat fraud, click here. Stay alert. Stay safe!