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Scammers strike as online shopping levels rise

Monday, December 9, 2013 - 14:28 by David Aiken

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Security specialists have advised consumers to be particularly alert to e-commerce scams this month. The popularity of safe shopping online at this time of year leads cybercriminals to redouble their efforts to trick people into handing over personal information and even hard cash.

The Metro reports that AppRiver security expert, Fred Touchette, has warned about a new spate of phishing emails, which claim to be sent by major e-commerce outlet, Amazon, but are in fact riddled with malware which, once opened, can infect the user's PC and harvest private data.

The malicious code will burrow into computers and pick up all of the information stored in browsers like Firefox, allowing scammers to access passwords and email addresses, which can in turn, lead to third parties exploiting your online accounts.

Touchette points out that the phishing scams are particularly effective at this time of year because millions of people across the UK are awaiting the delivery of their orders from Amazon and other sites. So when an email arrives claiming to relate to their delivery, many may drop their guard and end up victims of cybercrime.

Amazon has been running a promotion in which it offers a month's free access to Prime membership, allowing for free express delivery of items which are ordered online. This is something else that malicious third parties have been looking to exploit this month, according to Touchette.

Governments across the world have been working hard to tidy up the internet before the beginning of the pre-Christmas e-commerce rush, with hundreds of spam domains taken out of action, to help prevent people spending real cash on fake goods and services.

Sticking to well known retail sites and avoiding any unsolicited emails is the best way to stay safe online this year.