People should beware phishing attempts from scammers posing as e-commerce firms offering discounts or giving away prizes, a data security company said.
As many stores roll out online discounts and promotions ahead of Wednesday next week, which is Singles’ Day — an annual online shopping day that originated in China, but has since spread worldwide — scammers are also looking to capitalize on the enthusiasm, Trend Micro said on Monday.
Many scammers are likely to send fradulent messages pretending to be online shopping sites asking people to provide personal information to obtain discounts or gifts, it said.
Phishing texts or e-mails with phrases such as “the product you ordered has arrived” along with a link are among common methods to trick people into clicking suspicious links that could compromise their personal information, the company said.
Some phishing links could be presented below text suggesting that the victim has won a prize from an online lottery, it said.
Such Web sites often include fake comments from other users, such as “I thought it was a scam, but I really received a Samsung Galaxy S20 today,” to enhance the scam’s credibility, it added.
People can fact-check the messages using Trend Micro’s anti-fraud chatbot Dr.Message on the messaging app Line or its Facebook page by pasting the text of the suspicious text or e-mail in a message to the service, the company said.
People should keep bills or receipts related to their online purchases, as they help with verification, the company said, adding that people should look for any unauthorized transactions on their credit card statement and immediately notify their bank of any unusual activity.
People should be vigilant in verifying online shopping apps, which might request personal information and access to a smartphone’s contact list, e-mail and text messages, the company said.
It is safer to buy things from credible, well-known Web sites, it added.
It is also better not to make payments by cash or money transfer, the company said, adding that using a credit card dedicated to online shopping would allow them to dispute fraudulent transactions.
People should frequently update the operating system on their computers or mobile devices to close security holes, the company said.
Installing anti-virus software on devices is also important, as it helps fend off phishing attempts, the company added.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
Speeding and badly maintained roads were the main causes of a school bus accident on a rainy day in Taipei last year that severely injured two people and left 22 with minor injuries, the Taiwan Transportation and Safety Board said. On March 11 last year, a Kang Chiao International School bus overturned inside the Wenshan Tunnel (文山隧道) on the northbound lane of the Xinyi Expressway. The tour bus, owned by Long Lai Co, exceeded the speed limit after entering the tunnel, the board’s investigation found. Sensing that the rear of the vehicle was swaying, the driver attempted to use the service and exhaust
RSS