Mastercard says holiday stress, not just weak passwords, makes shoppers easier targets for scammers. A few calm seconds before you click can protect your money.
Mastercard is warning that holiday stress makes people more likely to fall for online scams. The company's message is that the risk is not only weak passwords. It is also a rushed, distracted shopper who clicks before thinking.
The holidays pile on shopping, gifts, travel and packages in transit. Scammers know people are busy and tired. They count on that, and they send messages built to make you act fast. Mastercard points to a few common traps: fake delivery notices, urgent deals and payment alerts.
Anyone shopping online, tracking packages or paying by card or phone this season. That includes small businesses, which also buy, ship and pay during the holidays. Your phone, your money, your accounts and your family's personal information can all be at stake.
The warning sign is pressure. A message that says you must act now, a package that supposedly cannot be delivered, or a payment alert you did not expect should make you stop. Urgency is the tool scammers use to keep you from checking.
The steps in the alert box above are simple and take little time. The main idea is to slow down and go to the store, delivery site or bank yourself instead of tapping a link in a message.
Mastercard's material, as provided, does not include numbers on how many scams are happening or how much money is lost. It also does not name a specific scam campaign. For now, treat it as a general seasonal warning rather than news of one particular attack.
Before you click or pay on any urgent holiday message, pause and go to the store, delivery site or bank yourself.
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