"From Black Friday to Cyber Monday, we are now in the thick of the holiday shopping season. But as you hunt for deals, scammers are trying to strike. Experts warn that shoppers should be careful of emails they may get touting super deep discounts, like around 80% to 90% off. Those emails may look like they're from a legit retailer, but they could be a scam containing links to duped websites."
"There's been a whopping 250% spike in the creation of fake shopping sites, according to data from NordVPN. Now, the scammers are also using artificial intelligence (AI) to make the duped shopping websites look very legit. Experts say you always check the URL, and make sure it contains the padlock symbol and starts with "https." Also, shoppers should be aware of another scam where criminals send a package right to your own mailbox."
"The U.S. Postal Inspection Service calls it the "brushing scam." The gift is often an imitation diamond, and it comes with a letter saying it's free, and all you just need to do is register it through a QR code. "Do not click on that QR code. Do not scan it. Do not provide any personal information," U.S. Postal Inspector Marjan Barrigan-Husted told ABC7 On Your Side Investigates."
Scammers send emails advertising 80%–90% discounts that link to fraudulent websites designed to mimic legitimate retailers. Creation of fake shopping sites has spiked 250%, according to NordVPN data. Scammers now use artificial intelligence to make fraudulent sites appear more legitimate. Shoppers should check URLs for "https" and a padlock symbol before entering information. A separate brushing scam involves unsolicited small packages, often imitation jewelry, with letters instructing recipients to register via a QR code. Scanning the QR code or providing personal information can enable criminals to drain accounts. Recipients may keep unsolicited items but should not scan codes or give personal data.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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