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6 Common Holiday Scams and How to Avoid Them

As the holiday shopping season ramps up, consumers increasingly turn to online platforms for their gift purchases, seeking convenience and variety.

Published: Dec 1, 2024 10:40 AM

By Jeanel Alvarado

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6 Common Holiday Scams and How to Avoid Them

As the holiday shopping season ramps up, consumers increasingly turn to online platforms for their gift purchases, seeking convenience and variety. However, this shift also heightens the risk of encountering scams.

According to McAfee’s 2024 Global Holiday Shopping Scams Study, 70% of American shoppers now believe that AI-powered scams, including deepfakes, significantly impact their online shopping behaviors.

Alarmingly, 21% of Americans have unknowingly purchased fake products endorsed by deepfake celebrities, with the figure rising to 33% among Gen Z and Millennials. Common tactics include fake missed delivery notifications (59%), phony purchase alerts (44%), and fake credit card issue messages (37%).

With 89% of Americans planning to shop online this holiday season, the need for vigilance is more critical than ever. Here are six prevalent holiday shopping scams and tips on how to avoid falling victim to them. RB Insights Be cautious with gift cards and only purchase from reputable sources.

Verify the authenticity of discounted goods before buying. Watch out for fraudulent e-cards that may contain malicious links. Use coupon sites that don’t require personal information. Be aware of potential scams when using the ‘buy online, pick up in-store’ option…

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