As the holiday shopping season kicks into full gear, the FBI is urging online shoppers to exercise caution when browsing e-commerce sites, particularly on popular browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Edge, Forbes reports.
With Cyber Monday approaching, the risk of encountering fraudulent websites has significantly increased, with cybercriminals exploiting the busy shopping period to deceive consumers.
In a new advisory, the FBI warned of a sharp rise in scam websites, with reports indicating an 89% increase in such sites compared to last year. Almost 80% of shopping-related emails are also found to be fraudulent, making it harder for consumers to discern legitimate offers from scams.
To help users avoid falling victim to online fraud, the FBI outlined a set of precautionary steps. These include checking the URL of websites to ensure they are secure (indicated by a padlock symbol and “https”), researching unfamiliar sellers by reading reviews (with caution, as fake reviews can be prevalent), and avoiding sellers that act as authorized dealers from countries where such deals don’t exist.
Other red flags to look out for include sellers who request payments through gift cards or ask for unusual shipping arrangements. The FBI also highlighted that scams often involve sellers pretending to be located in the U.S. but claiming to be out of the country due to personal reasons.
With many shoppers looking for deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, cybersecurity experts also caution against clicking on suspicious email links or QR codes and advise verifying the authenticity of offers before making any purchases.
Cybersecurity firm Check Point echoed the FBI’s concerns, offering additional tips such as closely inspecting URLs for spelling errors or unusual domains. Experts warn that this year’s shopping season has been rife with phishing attempts, particularly those designed to impersonate trusted brands through AI-generated emails and ads.
As the volume of online transactions increases, especially on mobile devices, the risk of falling victim to scams also grows. The Better Business Bureau also advised shoppers to beware of misleading advertisements and untrustworthy sellers, emphasizing the importance of shopping on secure, reputable websites.
With record levels of online spending expected this holiday season, consumers are urged to remain vigilant and take steps to protect their personal and financial information from scammers.
