How to Avoid Spooky Halloween Phishing Emails

Scammers are trying to scare you this Halloween through phishing emails and text messages. Once you click on the links in these messages, you’re taken to a fake website that can download malware onto your device. Along with the malware, these websites also contain forms that you fill out for fake reasons and will steal your information. Here are some examples of Halloween phishing scams and how to avoid them.

What Are Halloween Phishing Emails?

Scammers send phishing emails to their victims claiming that there are good deals on Halloween costumes and decorations. Victims think that these deals are extraordinary and click the links in the emails thinking they are going to save money. They get directed to a fake website that looks legit and starts adding items to their cart.

Once items are added to their cart, they go to purchase their items by going to a fake checkout page. This checkout page then asks them to enter their personal and financial information to get the items in their cart. However, once they enter this information scammers use it to commit identity theft and drain their bank account.

How to Avoid Phishing Emails

• Don’t give out any personal information for any reason.
• Don’t give out your financial information or your money for any reason.
• Don’t click on any links on the email, unless you have verified the sender and know where it’s coming from.
• Even if you’re sure it’s your favorite retail store or bank, go on the official website yourself versus clicking on the link.
• Make sure the sender’s email is legit and doesn’t use Yahoo or Gmail as their sender, or isn’t misspelled.
• Report any suspicious-looking emails to the FTC.

Social Catfish is Here to Help You!

At Social Catfish, we want to help you verify the identities of those who might seem suspicious to you. If you have their name, email address, phone number, social media username, or image, you can reverse search and see who the suspected person was that you’ve been in contact with if you think you’ve been a victim of Halloween phishing scams.