With the holiday shopping season kicking off on Black Friday, online scammers are stepping up their game to target unsuspecting shoppers. According to a recent Forbes report, there has been an alarming 89% increase in fraudulent websites compared to last year, with nearly 80% of shopping-related emails being identified as scams. Even trusted Google search results are being manipulated to lead users to malicious websites.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning to online shoppers, outlining steps to safeguard themselves from these scams during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holiday season. This alert is especially important for users of popular web browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Edge, which collectively hold a 95% market share in the US. Shoppers are advised to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines to avoid falling prey to these threats.
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The FBI cautions that “When shopping online during the holiday season – or any time of year – always be cautious of deals that appear too good to be true. Don’t become a scammer’s next victim. Every year, thousands of individuals fall victim to holiday scams, resulting in financial loss, compromised personal information, and a ruined festive spirit.”
As per the precautionary measures outlined in the FBI’s official statement, common cyber scams during the holiday season include:
- Non-delivery scams, where payment is made for goods or services that are never received
- Non-payment scams, where purchased goods or services are shipped, but payment is never received
- Auction fraud, where a product purchased on an auction site is misrepresented
- Gift card fraud, where payment is requested through a pre-paid card
According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (IC3) 2023 report, non-payment and non-delivery scams resulted in over $309 million in losses that year, with an additional $173 million attributed to credit card fraud. The IC3 typically receives a surge in complaints in the early months of each year, indicating a connection to the previous holiday season’s fraudulent activities.
