Protect your Club, Gym, School, or Studio from Holiday Scams!

November 19, 2024

Happy Holidays! Running your club, gym, school, or studio means keeping your families' and students' information safe and we've got an entire team dedicated to just that! Not every organization has a specialized cyber security team on their side, though, so we've put together this article to help with fraud prevention and to help you avoid any holiday stress. Whether it's your business or personal security, these tips will help you stay one step ahead of scammers and keep your operation safe all season long. 

These tips are good to follow year-round, but during the holidays, we tend to see holiday scams that tap into the seasonal rush and confusion tend to skyrocket. It becomes critically important to stay vigilant about personal and business security this time of year.

Tip #1: Be Cautious with Links in Emails & Texts

Scammers can easily impersonate trusted sources, leading you to click on a malicious link or button designed to steal login details or sensitive information. Following email scam best practices is the best way to avoid clicking malicious links in emails. If something feels off, it's always better to play it safe than sorry when it comes to fraud prevention! 

Before clicking on a link in an email or text, take a moment to double-check. On a laptop or desktop, hover over the link to see the web address and where it’s really taking you. On mobile? Long-press to copy the link, then paste it into a simple text editor to review the web address and make sure it’s a trusted website. 

Tip #2: Always Check the Address Bar for Website Security

Always check your web browser’s security tool. Before entering any sensitive information, look for the padlock icon before the URL in the address bar. In some browsers, you might need to click a menu icon to see it, along with other security checks.

🔒  If the padlock is locked, the website has passed basic security checks. 

🔓  If the padlock is open, do not enter any private information or payment details. 

If you see an issue on a website that you normally trust, contact the company’s support team through a known, secure phone number or email to report the problem. It may be something as simple as an expired security certificate, but it could be a sign of a larger issue. Either way, they will need to investigate the matter and will be thankful for your help. 

If you spot an issue on a website you would normally trust, don’t hesitate to reach out to the company’s support team through a known, secure contact method to report the problem. It might be something minor like an expired security certificate, but it’s always better to be safe. They’ll need to investigate the matter and will be appreciative of your help.

Tip #3: Don’t Trust Calls from Unknown Numbers or Contacts in Messaging Apps

The holidays are all about reconnecting with loved ones, but unfortunately, scammers know this and take advantage by posing as people you know—often reaching out from unfamiliar phone numbers or social media accounts claiming to be someone you know. Deceptive tactics like AI-generated voices and images are making it harder to tell who's real. It's important to stay cautious when you get unexpected calls or messages.

Tip #4: Independently Verify Unexpected Requests for Action or Sensitive Information

Scammers can easily imitate phone numbers, emails, and social media accounts—sometimes even posing as someone you trust. Phishing scam best practices can help you verify unexpected requests safely. If you get a request for sensitive info or immediate action —even from a trusted source—take a step back and be cautious. Hang up, leave the chat, or ignore the email. Then, reach out to the person directly through a trusted communication method to verify it’s really them. 

Tip #5: Check for Device Updates Regularly

Tech companies are always on the lookout for security threats, so it’s smart to keep all your devices up to date—especially during the holiday season when scams are more common. Regular updates for your computer, phone, smartwatch, tablets, and other connected devices often include important security patches to protect against the latest threats. 

Tip #6: Don’t Make It Easy to Impersonate YOU!

Help protect your coworkers, friends, and family by keeping personal details off the internet. Cybercriminals don’t just target your login credentials—they often try to impersonate you using information from your social media posts, like family names, hometowns, or recent trips. Even casual mentions of life events or activities can give them enough details to create a convincing story. Be mindful of your privacy settings and avoid sharing too much personal info in public posts. 

How to Know When iClassPro is Really Calling

Any person or organization can fall victim to social engineering, often through someone impersonating a trusted individual or business affiliate. As your trusted class management software provider–if you get a call claiming to be from iClassPro asking for sensitive information, or one that seems suspicious in any way, here are some steps you can take to verify the identity of the caller: 

Check the Caller ID

Check the caller ID for any incoming call. If it’s not from a known iClassPro number, you should be suspicious. However, keep in mind that Caller ID can be spoofed. This check alone does not necessarily prove who the call is from. 

Offer to Call Back

If the Caller ID check shows it’s us but you’re still suspicious, tell the caller that you’re busy and will call right back. Disconnect the call and dial the official phone number on our website or in your contacts. This way, you can verify you’re contacting a legitimate representative when they answer the phone. 

Ask to Do an Email Verification

If you’re still suspicious, ask the representative to send you an email. Check the end of the email address to make sure it's coming from our website (iclasspro.com). Then send a separate email to that email address with a secret word or phrase and ask the agent to confirm it over the phone. Scammers may be able to send an email that looks like it’s from us, but they will not be able to receive a fresh email that you send directly to us.

Verify Account Details

A legitimate representative should be able to verify details about your account that a scammer would not have access to. Details could be about recent interactions with our team members, subscription info, or specifics about your account setup or registrations. 

Never Share Sensitive Financial Info Over the Phone

Our team will never ask for sensitive financial information over the phone. A call requesting you to provide a full bank account or credit card number is a major red flag.

Report Suspicious Activity Back to Us

If you receive a suspicious call or email claiming to be from our team that just doesn’t feel right, feel free to report it to us by emailing support@iclasspro.com. We will promptly investigate. By doing so, you may be protecting yourself and others from a holiday scam. 

Listen to your instincts and follow these tips to protect your sensitive information.

Our representatives will always encourage security best practices. If anyone gives you a hard time about a quick verification step, you’re most likely dealing with a scammer. 

Help Others Stay Safe and Secure this Holiday Season!

It’s easy to let your guard down around the busy holiday season. Don’t let your team, friends, or family fall victim to a holiday scammer! Share our email, social media, and phishing scam best practices with them by forwarding this article in an email, text message or by sharing it on social media!