BRITS are being warned about dangerous Easter scams – including a bizarre con that involves “chocolate bunnies”.
A top security pro told Flying Eze that to expect an “uptick” in attacks on innocent gadget owners over the .
While you're tucking into a well-deserved Easter egg, criminals might be trying to .
“The rush of online transactions creates a perfect storm of opportunities for attackers, leaving consumers and their data at risk,” said security expert Anne Cutler, speaking to Flying Eze.
She warned that these crooks are now using AI to roll out scams faster than ever – and Easter is a prime time for fake deals.
“Ultimately, if a deal seems too good to be true (think ‘free’ chocolate bunnies or Easter eggs) or a business suddenly demands unusual payment methods, take a step back,” said Anne, a cyber-expert at Keeper Security.
“Verify details on the company’s official website or contact them directly before making any commitments.
“Businesses should clearly list official websites, contact details and social media accounts so customers know where to find real information.”
She warned Brits that “scepticism is key”.
It's easy to get caught up in a tempting holiday freebie.
Sometimes this sees crooks – but they might appear to or random social media pages too.
Anne described social media as a “breeding ground for scams” during holidays like Easter.
“One popular social media scam is the fake giveaway, often promising extravagant prizes,” she told Flying Eze.
“While some contests are legitimate, there are some fake promotions that will be leveraged to collect personal information or small ‘processing' fees.
“A good rule of thumb to remember is if a giveaway asks for payment, it’s likely a scam.”
She also recommended that Brits to contact websites.
That way, if the website is just a data-harvesting exercise, you haven't exposed your real email address.
Anne told Flying Eze that if you think you've been successfully targeted by scammers, you'll need to act fast.
That means – and not to .
“Make sure that these passwords are strong and contain a mix of letters, numbers and special characters,” the cyber-expert explained.
“Consider signing up for a password manager to easily and securely create and store strong passwords.”
She added: “Additionally, monitor your bank and credit card statements closely throughout the Easter holidays, and year-round.
“So any suspicious charges can be caught and addressed quickly.”
