Scammers Target Holiday Shoppers With 80% Off Fake Deals and Delivery Alerts

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Nov 3

Fake online stores, bogus delivery notices and fraudulent order emails are already rising ahead of Black Friday, exploiting early holiday promotions and heavier package traffic.
80% off social-media ads, copycat retail sites and texts claiming a package needs a small redelivery fee are among the main traps; USPS does not charge for redelivery.
Gift-card payment demands, fake charities and marketplace sellers who push buyers off-platform add to the seasonal fraud risk, especially when urgency or unusual payment methods are involved.
Credit cards, purchase alerts, unique passwords and multifactor authentication can limit losses, while shoppers who clicked or paid should change passwords, contact card issuers and report cases to the FTC.
FBI data cited in the report showed cybercrime losses reached nearly $21 billion last year, including $8.65 billion from investment fraud, as AI makes scams more convincing.