5 Valentine’s Day Scams That Could Break Your Heart

[Babyboomer]

5 Valentine's Day Scams That Could Break Your Heart
Posted by VIPRE Security News On February 5,
Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Cupid will be doing his arrow thing, shooting it at millions of hearts, while people of all ages will express their love with cards, flowers and other gifts. Retailers will enjoy one of their busiest shopping days of the year. Of course, busy retailers means busy scammers, who will be hard at work trying to steal money and identities, breaking many hearts in the process. Here are five scams designed to break your heart that you should watch out for this Valentine's Day:

Lovely Email or Unlovely Malware?
We can all be a bit sentimental this time of year. But that cupid-themed video, wallpaper or song could be a scam packing a nasty piece of malware. Be vigilant, as scammers prey on emotions this time of year.
What to do: The easiest way to protect yourself against this kind of scam is to make sure your computer is protected with the newest version of your antivirus software.

Infected E-cards
Greeting cards are probably the easiest way for scammers to infect a computer with malware that gives them remote access to your files, online banking accounts and passwords. Some criminals simply want to use your computer as a spam-sending botnet.
What to do: Don't click on an embedded link unless you know the sender. Avoid names you don't recognize and senders such as webmaster@hallmark.com. Even if you recognize the sender's name, go to the card company's website to open the card and read it.

Google-Based Traps
Many gift-givers start looking for a product search on Google or another search engine. Scammers take advantage by creating bogus websites. Posing as legitimate vendors, they sell counterfeit goods or nothing at all while collecting people's credit card information.
What to do: Go directly to a retailer's website. It's the safest way to shop online. Type the address instead of trusting keyword searches.

Social Media Frauds
Beware of messages, poems, love letters and quizzes that seem to come from friends. These messages may be sent by scammers to get you to download malware or make purchases on unsafe websites. Also, beware of apps that lead you to survey websites that generate commissions for scammers or put you at risk for identity theft.
What to do: Think twice before opening messages with generic greetings such as "Valentine's Day" and "Special Greeting." Even if you know the sender, be aware that the message may not be from him or her.

Sales-Related Scams
Be suspicious of all offers that appear in your inbox unless the offer is from a company you've done business with — and that already has your contact information. Links within such emails can contain malware or draw you to scammer-run websites.
What to do: Read each address carefully. Scammers often create a bogus site that looks quite similar to the original.