On the approach to the holiday season, the busiest shopping period of the year comes in; during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas Shopping Frenzy, consumers enthusiastically hunt for great bargains, and experts warn buyers to be wary. Scammers are prepared for the throng of consumers who will be jostling this time of the year to steal their personal information and financial details.

The Alberta RCMP says fraud cases during holiday periods have become more recurrent. Between 2023 and fraud reports, 8,500 were documented, with 2,300 or more such cases involving fraud of amounts over $5,000. Cybersecurity analyst Ritesh Kotak said that scams are just getting smarter, with the advancements of artificial intelligence. Scam emails of old often contained obvious errors and inconsistencies that could easily spot them. Today, scam artists can use AI to write proper messages that don’t seem like fraud.

Holidays will be marred with especially common internet scams, like phishing, where thieves send fake package tracking emails to dupe unsuspecting victims into revealing personal data. Such emails appear legitimate on the surface, but linking or entering account details in them may result in identity theft. Kotak advises shoppers to be wary, especially when receiving unsolicited messages related to package deliveries.

To help consumers protect themselves, the RCMP offers several tips for safe online shopping:

• Shop only from reputable retailers and avoid third-party sellers with unverified credentials.
• Refrain from using public Wi-Fi for financial transactions to protect sensitive data.
• Allow multi-factor authentication on online accounts to provide another layer of security.
• Always use changing passwords regularly by a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Verify direct email solicitations with the company especially if asking to click on a link or providing personal info.
• Monitor accounts frequently for any suspicious activity or unauthorized charges.

Kotak further mentions that users should check for the presence of padlock in the browser of a website as the site is using encryption for secure transactions. A dedicated email for online shopping can also isolate transactions from personal communications in case of a breach. There is also greater security in making online transactions using credit cards because credit card companies usually provide fraud protection and even insurance cover for most transactions with credit cards.

If the consumers believe that they have lost to a scam, they should report it both to their local authorities and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

This way, they contribute to better understanding of the scope of this issue and help prevent further crimes.

With holiday shopping now in full swing, it is to the advantage of all involved to stay informed and cautious.