The holiday season brings festive cheer — and a surge in online shopping. Unfortunately, it also leads to an increase in scams and cyber threats, so it’s important to stay vigilant to protect your personal information from identity theft and fraud.

Four simple tips for safer online shopping

1. Use a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection and easier dispute options. If your information is compromised, you’re less likely to suffer financial losses.
2. Don’t click on unfamiliar links. Scammers often impersonate retailers via email or text to lure you into fake websites. Always navigate directly to the retailer’s official site.
3. Look for signs of a secure site. Before entering payment details, confirm the site is secure by checking for “https://” and a padlock icon in your browser’s address bar.
4. Be wary of “too good to be true” deals. If a price seems unbelievable, it probably is. Stick with trusted retailers and avoid unfamiliar sites offering steep discounts.

A little caution goes a long way in keeping your holidays joyful and scam-free.

New UCOP resource: Financial fraud SharePoint page

There is a concerning rise in direct-deposit fraud attempts targeting the UC community. UCOP Information Security has launched a new financial fraud SharePoint page to help UC staff recognize and respond to emerging threats.

This resource covers tactics such as:

• Phishing emails with malicious links
• Compromised UC email accounts that override prior warnings
• Intercepted web traffic used to access your accounts
• Fake web pages replicating trusted UC sites
• Unauthorized devices added to Duo

Each tactic is explained in detail, with tips on what to watch for. The page also includes quick links to trusted UC websites — bookmark them to avoid falling for fake pages.

How to get help

For general questions about information security at UCOP, reach out to your unit information security lead. If you’ve experienced a cybersecurity incident, report it here.

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