For most of us, Christmas is a time for giving. But not everyone feels that way. For some, Christmas spirit signals a time of easy pickings and a chance to help themselves to our hard earned cash.

It’s a sad fact that the Internet is not just a way to get the Christmas shopping done without fighting through the crowds – it is also home to the majority of Christmas money scams:

1. Fake charity appeals:
If you get an email asking for donations, apparently from a recognised charity, proceed with caution. Reputable charities never ask for money via email, so any website you are directed to will probably be designed to collect your personal and banking details – which will then be used to steal your money.

2. Holiday e-cards:
It’s great to be green of course, and e-cards are one way of cutting down on Christmas waste. But beware, some e-cards are not what they seem – people receiving them are directed to website designed to, you guessed it, steal their personal information and, ultimately their money. So, if you receive an e-card, or an email promoting e-cards, be careful what you click on.

3. Be careful what you Google:
Scammers are nothing if not resourceful. Research has found that results from a wide range of seasonal searches can be peppered with dodgy sites – searches ranging from Free Santa Screensaver to Free Santa Music can be risky. (more…)