One of the most frequent frauds during the holiday season is cloned websites that imitate the aesthetics of well-known brands and marketplaces, offering unusual discounts. In the last two weeks, Check Point, a leader in cybersecurity solutions, detected more than 33,000 phishing emails with a Christmas theme and over 10,000 fake ads created daily on social networks. Many mimic festive promotions, while others promote fake offers from Walmart or Home Depot, fraudulent charity campaigns, and urgent delivery notices. In 2025, scams will not only be more common but will be driven by AI and automation, making them harder to detect. 'Online shopping security does not depend only on the commerce: the user's behavior is decisive. Shopping from public Wi-Fi networks or outdated devices significantly increases the risk of fraud,' state Snoop Consulting. Main crimes: AI-enhanced delivery phishing (SMS and WhatsApp) is the world's most successful Christmas scam. AI-generated smishing messages mimic alerts from logistics giants like Royal Mail, FedEx, UPS, and DPD. Clicking the link leads to credential theft or payment fraud. AI-generated delivery scams doubled this season, increasing by 100% from November to December compared to last year. Victims receive realistic text messages about a 'lost package' with links to cloned websites. Fake e-commerce websites with AI-powered chatbots. Threat actors now create full e-commerce stores offering fake 'mega Christmas deals'. They then request a small 'shipping fee'. Sweepstakes and Christmas promotion scams on social media. Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are filled with fake giveaways, cloning brand pages and claiming victims have 'won a Christmas prize'. How to detect warning signs: Fake URLs: Look for typos or suspicious domains. Unusual payment requests: Gift cards, cryptocurrencies, or bank transfers = scam. Absent customer service: No phone, no address, only a generic email. New or inactive social accounts: Real giveaways don't come from blank pages. Emotional triggers: Messages like 'You've won a Christmas sweepstakes!' These sites often include AI-controlled chat assistants to simulate a real customer service. How scammers attack you this Christmas: Holiday scams spread via SMS, email, social media, and even search ads. The FBI recently reminded everyone to stay alert. What changed this year? AI-generated phishing emails perfectly mimic real brands. Fake e-commerce websites with AI-powered chatbots and payment pages. Deepfake voices and AI-powered call scripts turn phone scams into emotional weapons. Automated infrastructure creates thousands of fraudulent messages and domains on a large scale. 'Using payment methods with two-factor authentication, keeping devices updated, and distrusting messages that ask for personal data are simple practices that reduce a large portion of digital attacks during the Holidays,' conclude KC Latam. Record of crimes in 2024: The precedent in Argentina is not at all reassuring, as it comes from a 2024 with record levels of computer crimes: according to official data from the Specialized Fiscal Unit for Cybercrime (UFECI), 34,468 complaints of digital fraud were registered, representing a 21% increase compared to 2023. Within those cases, 63% corresponded to online fraud, and more than half were linked to online buying and selling operations. 'Dates of high consumption such as Christmas are the favorite moment for cybercriminals.'
