Domain name holders should be aware of a heightened phishing risk during the holiday season, it has been claimed.
Writing for USA Today, Michaelle Bond said that as the holiday shopping season revs up, an increasing number of cybercriminals are trying to lure online shoppers into divulging sensitive information.
As such, they need to be aware of bogus forms on the internet and virus-infected web links.
Ms. Bond said phishing always plays on people’s fears and expectations.
“It always spikes with holiday shopping, celebrity scandals, weather disasters and big sporting events,” she added.
If a web users suspects there may be malicious intent to a particular email, they should forward the message to the Federal Trade Commission or the Anti-Phishing Working Group, Ms. Bond suggested.
A complaint may also be filed with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, she added.