"Officials are urging people not to click on suspicious links or attachments in emails, websites, or social media posts, warning that a single click can install malware on a device. 'Phishing scams and similar crimes get you to click on links and give up personal information like your name, password, and bank account number,' the FBI said. 'Be especially wary if a company asks you to update your password or account information. 'Look up the company's phone number on your own and call the company.'"
"The agency flagged four major schemes that typically spike during the season: non-delivery scams, non-payment scams, auction fraud and gift card fraud. According to the FBI, these schemes usually involve non-delivery scams, in which buyers pay for items that never show up, and non-payment scams, where sellers send merchandise but never get paid. The agency also highlighted auction fraud, where the item advertised online is not what the buyer actually receives, and gift card fraud, where criminals demand payment through prepaid cards."
"In 2024 alone, Americans lost more than $785 million to non-payment and non-delivery scams, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Credit card fraud accounted for another $199 million in losses. Since January 2025, the IC3 has logged more than 5,100 complaints tied to ATO fraud, with reported losses topping $262 million. Complaints routinely spike in the early months of the year, a trend the IC3 links to holiday shopping scams."
Gmail, Outlook and all US email users face a surge in holiday-related scams that infiltrate inboxes and drain bank accounts. Four major schemes spike seasonally: non-delivery, non-payment, auction fraud, and gift card fraud. In 2024, non-payment and non-delivery scams caused over $785 million in losses, and credit card fraud added $199 million. Complaints often spike early in the year linked to holiday shopping scams. Scammers deploy phishing and malware via links or attachments and increasingly use account takeover tactics, logging over 5,100 ATO complaints and $262 million in reported losses since January 2025.
Read at Mail Online
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