As the 2025 holiday shopping season gets underway in the US, cybersecurity experts are warning consumers and small business owners that scammers are more active and sophisticated than ever, and artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly part of their toolkit, The Independent reported.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center traditionally sees a spike in reports in the early months of the year, a trend that aligns closely with scams tied to the previous year’s holiday shopping rush. Modern fraudsters aren’t relying on poor spelling or obviously fake sites anymore. Instead, they’re using AI tools and dark web fraud kits to build convincing fake storefronts, fake customer service chatbots and targeted social media ads that mimic legitimate brands.
Rod Schultz, CEO of AI-focused cybersecurity firm Bolster AI, said criminals now use technology to make scams look real enough to deceive even careful shoppers, according to The Independent.
Fake delivery notifications
One of the most widespread tricks this season is fake delivery alerts. Scammers impersonate carriers like UPS, FedEx, Amazon and the US Postal Service, sending texts or emails that claim you’ve missed a delivery or must pay a “customs fee” to receive a package. According to Bolster AI, these scams jumped significantly in November compared with last year. Victims who click links in these messages risk losing money or exposing personal data.
Counterfeit online stores
Another rising threat is fraudulent e-shops offering deep discounts on name-brand products. These sites are promoted through social media ads and search results, but their only purpose is to steal credit card information or payments. Cybersecurity firm Norton reported that over 1,000 such fake e-stores crop up daily.
Smishing and QR code traps
Text-based phishing (smishing) is becoming more common as email filters improve. Scammers send malicious links that install malware or steal credentials. QR codes are another loophole, when scanned, they can redirect users to fraudulent sites designed to collect data.
Auction and gift card scams
Other scams include auction fraud, where listings misrepresent products, and schemes that insist on gift card payments, a red flag because these transactions are difficult to reverse.
Consumers are urged to research unfamiliar sellers, avoid clicking suspicious links, and use secure payment methods such as credit cards to protect against losses this season.