- Scammers are taking advantage of the festive period to fool shoppers, experts warn
- Compelling ads, URLs and storefronts aim to attract customers to enter their card details.
- Parcel scams encourage buyers to give away their personal information
Christmas shopping can be quite stressful, but it’s not just important to get the right gift: due to the rise in online scams, it’s also important to keep your money safe and make sure your purchases are legitimate.
Around 86% of Brits say they have seen adverts from “unknown retailers with scam-related URLs” this holiday. So we know that these sites exist and that they multiply before the sales season.
A McAfee study has revealed this year’s top fraudulent tactics to fool shoppers, with major brands impersonated with fake ads, copied storefronts and fake URLs in an attempt to fool distracted browsers.
The most counterfeited brands
Most often, the brands being spoofed are the ones you trust and the ones that are popular around the holidays: high demand, limited edition items, luxury brands, and popular technology.
Fake websites created by scammers will appear legitimate and trick many buyers into entering their payment information.
Criminals will focus on brands that they know people like and are (mostly) willing to pay premium prices for. For luxury brands, this means that the five most misused brands are Coach, Dior, Ralph Lauren, Rolex and Gucci.
Fraudulent URLs around other brands are also appearing, with consumer brands like Apple, Nintendo, Samsung, Disney and Steam presenting themselves as particular targets for criminals. Huge demand for new products like the Switch 2 and new phones or tablets from Samsung and Apple.
If it seems like you’re seeing them more often than before, you’re not alone. Nearly one in five (19%) admit to being scammed at least once this season, but 29% of us think we can spot them when they appear.
AI risk
What’s different this year is the rise of AI. You can’t trust photos, videos or reviews anymore, and 58% of us are more worried this year than last.
“Fraudsters have always taken advantage of the holiday rush to exploit people looking for deals, but AI has made it easier for them to copy trusted brands with speed and precision that are hard to spot,” said Vonny Gamot, head of EMEA at McAfee.
“From fraudulent websites and counterfeit products to convincing emails and text messages designed to lure people in, scammers today are using AI to create some of the most credible social engineering tricks we’ve ever seen. The best protection is to slow down and check what you see.”
Protect yourself from these scams by checking the URL, doing another site search in a separate tab if you’re unsure, and going directly to a retailer’s site instead of looking at an ad — and remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Package problems
Unfortunately, the scams don’t stop there. Even if you ordered something from a legitimate site, you might always be in danger. Research from NetVoucherCodes shows that UK couriers are waiting for 1.29 billion parcels – so there are plenty of opportunities.
Package scams are one of the easiest ways for criminals to scam buyers. This time of year, with the popularity of online shopping, almost everyone will receive a package at one point or another. Criminals know this and will exploit this anticipation.
You’ve probably been the victim of a ‘missed delivery’, ‘ghost package’, or ‘incomplete address’ scam – but when you’re actually expecting a package, it’s pretty easy to fall for it. Remember that genuine couriers will not ask you to pay any SMS fees to receive your parcel, and you can always contact your retailer for assistance.
The easiest way to avoid these scams is to never click on the links sent in these text messages or emails, check the sender and take note of the tracking number originally sent – keep an eye on your package through the legitimate site with that number.
Unfortunately, staying safe is all about being vigilant and knowing the tricks these scammers use. Do not enter your card details until you are sure the site is legitimate and be very careful with your personal information at this time of year.
The best identity theft protection for every budget
