As holiday shopping ramps up, so do the scams. With 95% of consumers gearing up for the season, cybercriminals are following the trends, crafting clever schemes to steal your money or data.
Increased shopping, distracted consumers, and reduced staffing in businesses give scammers ample opportunity to strike. Here are the Black Friday and holiday scams you need to avoid, along with some tips to shop securely.
Cybercrime Ramping Up For The Holidays
The holiday season is prime time for cybercrime. With over 90 million Americans shopping online on Black Friday alone, the massive wave of digital activity creates the perfect storm for fraud.
Scammers rely on the chaos of the season—hectic schedules, overloaded inboxes, and the urgency of taking advantage of deals before they’re gone.
Businesses also become vulnerable during this time, often running on reduced staff as employees take time off. This leaves systems more exposed to breaches.
Add in tools like AI, and scammers now have the ability to craft hyper-personalized, convincing schemes that are harder than ever to detect.
Top Black Friday & Holiday Scams to Avoid
Cybercriminals use a variety of tactics, but the goal is always the same: to steal your money, credentials, or your data. Here are the most common scams to watch out for this holiday season:
Phishing Emails
Your inbox is about to be flooded with holiday promotions. With budgets tight and deals tempting, it’s easy to get lured into clicking on “too-good-to-be-true” offers.
Scammers often mimic trusted brands, sending emails that look legitimate but contain malicious links or attachments.
These phishing emails might claim to offer exclusive discounts (“Claim your 80% discount now!”) or warn of urgent shipping updates to catch you off guard.
Tip: Always verify the sender’s email address and navigate directly to the retailer’s website rather than clicking links in emails.
Fake Delivery & Tracking Notifications
During the holiday season, post offices are bustling with activity, and it’s not uncommon to overhear someone asking a worker if a text message about their delivery is real.
Scammers know how much we rely on tracking updates this time of year, and they exploit it by sending fake delivery notifications.
These messages often claim your package has shipped and provide a link to “track it,” or warn there was a problem with your delivery that needs immediate attention.
Known as smishing (phishing via SMS), these scams aim to trick you into clicking malicious links or sharing sensitive information.
It’s not just text messages you need to watch out for—similar fake notifications can show up in your email inbox, disguised as messages from carriers like UPS, FedEx, or USPS.
Tip: Instead of clicking links, visit the carrier’s official website or app to track your package.
Spoofed Websites
A big part of these scams use spoofed websites, also known as domain spoofing. These fake sites are designed to look like legitimate ones, often replicating branding, logos, and even URLs to fool unsuspecting users.
While some are easy to spot—displaying security warnings, odd pop-ups, or clunky layouts—others are so well-crafted that they can be nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.
Spoofed websites are often the final destination of phishing or smishing scams. Some of these websites can also be found on your search engine.
Users are directed to these sites to enter sensitive information like login credentials or payment details. In some cases, just visiting these sites can trigger malware downloads that compromise your device.
Tip: Always look for “https” and a padlock icon in the URL bar when shopping online. Be wary of websites with odd layouts, pop-ups, or spelling errors.
Gift Card Scams
If you receive an email or a text asking you to buy a gift card and send over the serial number, it’s a scam. This is a common tactic of cybercriminals. According to the FTC, gift card scams caused consumers to lose $217 million last year.
It’s best that you don’t buy gift cards for anyone unless it’s for someone you actually know.
Pay extra attention in the stores. If you see a gift card that looks like it’s been tampered with, avoid it or report it to the store. Scammers have a way of draining the balance once the card is activated.
They do this by using devices that allow them to check the balance frequently and create counter fit versions.
Tip: Only purchase gift cards directly from trusted retailers and inspect physical cards for signs of tampering. Avoid buying gift cards on resale sites, as these are often tied to fraud.
Social Media Scams
Scammers don’t just rely on emails or texts—they can easily reach you on social media, where people often let their guard down. They create fake profiles, run enticing ads, and even promote phony gift exchanges to lure unsuspecting users.
You should always verify that you’re engaging with legitimate accounts.
Tip: Be cautious of suspicious promotions or offers and avoid sharing personal or financial information through direct messages.
How to Avoid Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other Shopping Scams
Protecting yourself from holiday scams doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. A little caution in cybersecurity goes a long way. Here are 4 additional steps you can take to protect yourself while shopping online.
#1 Slow Down
Scammers thrive on urgency, so the first step is to slow down. Those flashy “act now!” emails or frantic “your package is delayed!” messages are designed to make you rush into bad decisions. Take a moment to read carefully, verify the source, and trust your instincts if something feels off.
#2 Stick to Trusted Brands
Another key strategy is to stick to brands you know and trust. That doesn’t mean scammers won’t try to impersonate major retailers like Amazon, Target, or Walmart—they often do. Shopping directly on official websites or in stores minimizes your risk. Double-check URLs before entering any personal information, and avoid deals sent through unsolicited emails or social media ads.
#3 Use Multi-Factor Authentication
Be sure to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your accounts whenever possible. MFA adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for scammers to access your accounts even if they have your password.
#4 Keep Your Work Devices Separate
Finally, remember to keep your work devices off the shopping list. While it might be tempting to sneak in some holiday deal-hunting during your lunch break, using your work laptop or computer could expose sensitive company data if you stumble into a scam. Stick to personal devices for online shopping—it’s a simple step that protects both you and your employer.
What to Do If You Fall For A Scam
Even with the best precautions, mistakes happen. If you think you’ve been scammed, don’t panic—quick action can help minimize the damage.
- Change your passwords, especially for accounts linked to the scam.
- Notify your bank or credit card company to dispute fraudulent charges.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- Monitor your credit and accounts for unusual activity.
- Seek professional help.
Prevent Identity Theft with JSI Guardian
Scams are an unfortunate part of the holiday season, but you don’t have to navigate them alone. JSI Guardian offers the protection you need to keep your data secure and your devices safe, whether you’re shopping from home or on the go.
Stay one step ahead of cybercriminals this holiday season—contact us to learn more about JSI Guardian.