Incidents of holiday scams increase every year, with reported financial losses continuing to surpass figures from previous years.
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A year later,the figure has risen to 82%.
Targeted Demographics
Holiday scammers will typically exploit the pressure of last-minute shopping to victimize people.
In such cases,groups with more activeonline shopping habitsare more vulnerable.
Seniors are equally prone to being targeted.
Moreover, 42% confessed to being pressured into impulsive purchases by time-sensitive deals and discounts.
Victims would typically suffer from sleep disorders, anxiety, shame, guilt, anger, or trauma.
With generative AI being exploited to facilitate more scams, people are becoming even more anxious.
In the US,60% of adults have reported being worried about deepfakes of celebrities being used in fake endorsements.
Remember to observeonline shopping safety practicesto prevent falling victim to fraudulent listings, endorsements, or deals.
As digital technology continues to advance, so do fraud tactics.
As such,remaining vigilant during the season becomes more imperative.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
We also wish to highlight the importance of victim support.
