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From the desk of Jason Balderama, Chief Information Security Officer, County of Marin
As the holiday season kicks off, so do online deals and, unfortunately, cyber scams. Cybercriminals take advantage of the shopping frenzy around Black Friday and Cyber Monday to trick consumers into revealing personal or financial information.
Let's look at some ways to protect yourself, your family, and your devices this season.
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Shop with Trusted Retailers
- Only purchase from reputable online stores. Bookmark official retailer websites rather than clicking on email or social media links.
- Be cautious of “too-good-to-be-true” deals from unfamiliar sites, as they probably are.
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Watch Out for Fake Ads and Scams
- Scammers create fake websites or social media pages mimicking well-known brands. Before clicking an ad or link, hover over it to see where it actually leads.
- Verify that URLs start with https:// and include the retailer’s legitimate domain (e.g., amazon.com, not amaz0n-deals.net).
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Avoid Phishing Emails and Texts
- Fraudsters send fake order confirmations or shipping notices around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Do not click links or open attachments from unknown senders.
- If you receive a suspicious message, go directly to the retailer’s website to check your order.
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Use Secure Payment Methods
- Credit cards and secure payment platforms (e.g., PayPal, Apple Pay) offer more protection than debit cards.
- Avoid using direct wire transfers or peer-to-peer payment apps (like Venmo or Zelle) for retail purchases.
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Keep Devices, Software, and Accounts Secure
- Turn on automatic updates and ensure your operating system, browser, and antivirus software are up to date before shopping online.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an additional layer of security to each of your accounts. When you turn on MFA, you use more than a password to log in, which might mean a fingerprint, facial scan, a text message, or an authenticator app. Enable MFA anywhere and everywhere you can.
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Beware of Public Wi-Fi
- Don’t shop or enter payment details over public Wi-Fi (e.g., in cafés or airports).
- Wait until you’re on a secure, private network. If traveling, use your cell phone carrier's Internet connection or use your phone as a personal hotspot.
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Monitor Financial Statements
- Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions.
- Set up account alerts to catch fraud early.
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Fake delivery notifications. Scammers send texts pretending to be from UPS, FedEx, or USPS. Don’t click tracking links. Instead, check directly with the courier.
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Gift card scams. Beware of requests to pay for deals or “special offers” using gift cards. These are always fraudulent.
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Charity scams. Cybercriminals exploit generosity during the holidays. Donate only through official charity websites.
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Social media giveaways. Fake accounts promise prizes for sharing or liking posts. Verify official brand accounts before engaging.
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Copyright © 2025 County of Marin, All rights reserved. |
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Disclaimer
The information provided in Marin CyberSafe News is intended to increase people’s awareness of cybersecurity and to help them behave in a more secure manner. Links in this newsletter are provided because they have information that may be useful. The County of Marin does not warrant the accuracy of any information contained in the links and neither endorses nor intends to promote the advertising of the resources listed herein. The opinions and statements contained in such resources are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinions of County of Marin.
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