Don’t Let Scammers Ruin Mother’s Day: Stay Cyber-Safe While You Celebrate

KENNESAW, Ga. | May 2, 2025

Mother’s Day is a time for love, gratitude, and maybe a little online shopping to find that perfect gift. But while you're picking out flowers, chocolates, or cozy slippers, cybercriminals are out there trying to cash in on the occasion.

Let’s keep the focus on moms—not malware—with a few quick tips to avoid scams this holiday.

 
🚨 Watch Out For These Common Mother’s Day Scams

  • You get an email from a flower shop. . . or wait, is that your mom texting you? Phishing scams often look like they’re from trusted sources—florists, gift sites, or even a family member—but they’re designed to trick you into clicking links or downloading files that can infect your computer.

    If you see something fishy in your KSU inbox, don’t take the bait—forward it to abuse@kennesaw.edu or hit the “Phish Alert Report” button in Outlook.

  • That website selling luxury spa baskets for $19.99? It might be too good to be true. Scammers build convincing sites that take your money and run—with no gift ever delivered.
  • Those flashy ads promising same-day delivery for a deal? Some are legit—but many are traps. Clicking on them can lead you to phony sites designed to steal your info or your money.

 

How to Protect Yourself (and Your Wallet)

  • Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA): It’s like a double lock on your digital door—especially for accounts tied to your email or payment info.
  • Shop smart: Stick with well-known retailers, and don’t let a cute ad lure you into unknown territory.
  • Look for the padlock: Make sure websites start with https:// and have a padlock icon in the address bar before you enter any personal info.
  • Use strong, unique passwords: Don’t let a weak password be your weak point.
  • Pay with a credit card: If something goes wrong, credit cards offer better protection than debit cards.
  • Keep your financial info off social media: No one needs to know you bought mom a necklace for $89.99. Oversharing can make you a target.


 
Let’s make Mother’s Day memorable for all the right reasons. Show your appreciation with thoughtful gifts and safe clicks—and keep the scammers out of the celebration.

Stay safe and cyber-aware, Owls!

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