Holiday shoppers, beware: AI-powered online shopping scams are on the rise this holiday season.
As Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick into high gear, scammers are exploiting the busy shopping period to swindle unsuspecting consumers out of their hard-earned cash. Experts warn that emails touting incredibly deep discounts - often as low as 80% off - may look legitimate but could be nothing more than phishing scams laced with malicious links.
Meanwhile, the number of fake shopping sites has skyrocketed by a whopping 250%, according to data from NordVPN. These sites are not only riddled with scams but also employ artificial intelligence (AI) to create convincing facsimiles of genuine retailers' websites, making it even harder for consumers to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate transactions.
To avoid falling prey to these online shenanigans, experts advise shoppers to scrutinize the URL and verify that it starts with "https" - a clear indicator of secure and trustworthy browsing. They should also exercise extreme caution when clicking on links or scanning QR codes sent in suspicious emails or messages.
In addition to AI-powered phishing scams, holiday shoppers are also facing another type of scam: the brushing scam. This involves scammers sending unsolicited packages to consumers' mailboxes, often containing cheap imitations of luxury items like diamond jewelry.
The catch? These packages come with a get-rich-quick scheme attached - claiming that all you need to do is register the item via a QR code and reap the rewards. Don't fall for it! U.S. Postal Inspector Marjan Barrigan-Husted warns consumers to steer clear of these schemes, lest they compromise their personal info and risk having their accounts drained.
The takeaway? When shopping online this holiday season, remain vigilant - if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
As Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick into high gear, scammers are exploiting the busy shopping period to swindle unsuspecting consumers out of their hard-earned cash. Experts warn that emails touting incredibly deep discounts - often as low as 80% off - may look legitimate but could be nothing more than phishing scams laced with malicious links.
Meanwhile, the number of fake shopping sites has skyrocketed by a whopping 250%, according to data from NordVPN. These sites are not only riddled with scams but also employ artificial intelligence (AI) to create convincing facsimiles of genuine retailers' websites, making it even harder for consumers to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate transactions.
To avoid falling prey to these online shenanigans, experts advise shoppers to scrutinize the URL and verify that it starts with "https" - a clear indicator of secure and trustworthy browsing. They should also exercise extreme caution when clicking on links or scanning QR codes sent in suspicious emails or messages.
In addition to AI-powered phishing scams, holiday shoppers are also facing another type of scam: the brushing scam. This involves scammers sending unsolicited packages to consumers' mailboxes, often containing cheap imitations of luxury items like diamond jewelry.
The catch? These packages come with a get-rich-quick scheme attached - claiming that all you need to do is register the item via a QR code and reap the rewards. Don't fall for it! U.S. Postal Inspector Marjan Barrigan-Husted warns consumers to steer clear of these schemes, lest they compromise their personal info and risk having their accounts drained.
The takeaway? When shopping online this holiday season, remain vigilant - if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
when i saw people getting scammed on those "discount" websites like 90% off lol. like, how can u even? anyway, the brushing scam tho... got my sister caught in one and she almost lost her account what a waste of time... anyone else heard about these new scams? 
! Like, I get excited for the holidays and shopping, but now I'm all about being super cautious when browsing online 
. Those AI-powered phishing scams are just plain sneaky - you'd think they'd be easier to spot, but nope! 
, and those "https" starts are a huge red flag if something looks fishy. And please, don't even get me started on those brushing scams 
.
. Wish me luck, or maybe a little bit of extra caution 
!
i'm literally freaking out thinking about all these AI-powered scams going around!!! how can we even trust what's real and what's not anymore?!?! 
make sure to check the url first, like, is it https or something?!?! 
and if you're getting an email with a link or QR code, DO NOT CLICK IT!!! 
who tries to scam someone into thinking they can get rich quick?!?! 
just no! stay safe online, guys!! 
this holiday season! scammers are getting so sneaky with phishing scams and fake sites that look super legit 
meanwhile, the number of fake shopping sites has skyrocketed by 250%! experts say to check the url for "https" and be super cautious when clicking on links or scanning qr codes