During the Black Friday and holiday shopping season, consumers are bombarded with text messages and emails from brands about deals, purchases, and deliveries. The heightened attention on these messages makes shoppers an easy target for cybercriminals. Cybercrime is a big business, costing the world economy $9.5 trillion in 2024. Shoppers are particularly vulnerable to scams during the holiday hustle and bustle when they are too busy to verify the legitimacy of messages. In some cases, these scams can be particularly convincing, using fake sender names and alarming messages to create a sense of urgency. One example is a phishing text purportedly from “CHASE.BANK.ALERT” that warns of a denied charge from Amazon and includes a link for further action. The link directs to a website that looks just like the real Chase Bank website but is actually controlled by cybercriminals. The scam is dangerous, and the stakes are high especially for unsuspecting consumers. Online security expert, Steven C. Morgan, has warned consumers to be cautious of such messages and advises everyone to look out for signs of a scam, such as foreign domains, misspellings, and dramatic language. Shopping during Black Friday and the holiday season brings the threat of scams to a whole new level. To protect yourself and your loved ones, it’s important to stay informed and vigilant. Share this information to help others stay safe from potential scams. Your security is of utmost importance when shopping.
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