Los Angeles, California – With the arrival of Black Friday and the beginning of the holiday shopping season, online scammers are becoming increasingly active in targeting unsuspecting shoppers. A recent study by Forbes has found a significant 89% increase in fraudulent websites compared to the previous year, with almost 80% of shopping-related emails now being classified as potential scams. Even popular search engines like Google are being manipulated to direct users to malicious websites, raising concerns among consumers and authorities alike.
To address these growing threats, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning to online shoppers, advising them on how to protect themselves during the busy holiday shopping period, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The alert is particularly critical for users of widely-used web browsers such as Chrome, Safari, and Edge, which account for the majority of the US market. Shoppers are being urged to remain vigilant and to follow safety guidelines to avoid falling victim to online scams.
The FBI has emphasized the importance of being cautious when encountering deals that seem too good to be true, reminding shoppers that every year, thousands of people fall prey to holiday scams. These scams can result in financial loss, compromised personal information, and a souring of holiday spirits. The agency has identified various types of cyber scams, including non-delivery scams, non-payment scams, auction fraud, and gift card fraud, all of which can lead to significant financial losses for consumers.
According to data from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), non-payment and non-delivery scams alone accounted for over $309 million in losses in the past year, with credit card fraud adding another $173 million to the total. The IC3 typically receives a surge in complaints in the early months of the year, indicating a possible connection to holiday shopping scams from the previous season. It is essential for consumers to remain vigilant, protect their personal information, and report any suspicious activity to authorities to prevent falling victim to online scams during the holiday season and beyond.