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You might say the hectic holiday season is the ultimate gift for cybercriminals — after artificial intelligence, that is.

Between the mental overload, the money we dish out, and how convincing fake shopping sites and delivery alerts have gotten, Americans are extra vulnerable this time of year.

“Scammers thrive on pressure, distraction, and emotional decision-making,” Leyla Bilge, director of Scam Research at Norton, wrote in a report on holiday scams. “They’re counting on you to be busy, stressed, and in a rush.”

Scammers can infiltrate our holidays in a bunch of different ways. They pose as:

Online deals. Sixty-two percent of people surveyed by Norton said they jump on holiday deals immediately. But you’re better off taking a breath and researching before clicking “buy.” Scammers can use AI impersonate popular brands like Amazon and Temu, sending phishing emails that are almost indistinguishable from the legitimate ones. Avoid websites you haven't heard of before and be especially wary of ads for beauty products, sneakers, and hard-to-find items that have gone viral on social media.

Celebrity endorsements. In early 2024, an AI-generated Taylor Swift “deepfake” pushed a scam for Le Creuset cookware, according to press reports. Since then, AI video tools have become better and more accessible. In other words, be wary of any celeb endorsements that pop up in your feed.

Delivery services. Scammers pose as UPS, FedEx, or the Postal Service by sharing a “tracking link” for information about a delivery problem. Even though you may be getting a ton of packages right now, the FCC warns to never click on those links.

Charities. Like the Grinch, criminals can be ruthless during the holidays. They’ll pull at your heart strings with scam phone calls and emails asking you to donate to charity, or even asking you to be an Instagram brand ambassador for their fake cause. Always donate through a charity’s official website — not over the phone or via forms sent over email or social media.

Toll reminders. Planning a roadtrip to see the fam? Be skeptical of text messages claiming you owe money for unpaid tolls. They can send you to convincing websites meant to steal your money and information.

So what?

Even the internet savvy can fall prey to modern holiday scams. Take these steps to protect yourself:

•   Leverage the intel. Check the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker to know for sure if a business, email, or ad is a scam.

•   Beware of the newest signs of AI fakery. Look/listen for subtle imperfections like strange lighting, watermarks, or flat voices.

•   Use a credit card rather than a debit card or payment app. They give you more protection against fraudulent charges.

•   Don’t rush. Impulse buys are not your friend. They leave you less time to look for signs of fraud — and may bust your budget.

•   Go to the source. Don’t trust that a social media ad is from who it says it’s from. Instead, go directly to the trusted website and search for the product yourself.

•   Report scams. If you discover a scam, pay it forward by reporting it to the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Related Reading

Think That Party Invite Is Real? Fake E-Vite Scams Are the New Phishing Trap | McAfee Blog (McAfee)

The New Face of Fraud. How AI Is Changing the Game (Stacker via Yahoo Finance)

Shopping for Holiday Gifts Online? Here Are Tips for Avoiding Scams (PBS)

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