NY AG warns holiday shopping season is the busiest time of year for cyberscammers

The five days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday are the busiest time of the year for shopping — and cyberscams, according to New York state Attorney General Letitia James, who warned consumers to stay vigilant and protect their personal information.

“The holidays should be a joyful time for New Yorkers to connect with loved ones, support local businesses, and give back to their communities,” James said. “Unfortunately, scammers often take advantage of this time of year to ramp up their frauds. As New Yorkers begin their holiday shopping, I urge everyone to take caution to protect themselves and their personal information.”

TransUnion found that digital fraud attempts were up 12% on those five days last year compared to the rest of 2023 prior to Thanksgiving. The FBI also reported that about 12,000 people lost more than $73 million to fraud during the 2022 holiday shopping season.

According to the FBI, fraudulent ads and internet storefronts offering holiday discounts that seem too good to be true are among this year’s most common scams. The bureau also warned of charity-related scams as well as scams involving gift cards, cryptocurrency and social media.

James recommended sticking to reputable retailers and verifying a website’s URL or customer service telephone number before entering personal or credit card information. She advised consumers to be wary of emails offering holiday discounts and free gift cards. James also said holiday shoppers should use secure home Internet networks rather than public Wi-Fi, and added that they should review all charges.

New Yorkers can report fraudulent emails and offers to James’ office by submitting a complaint online or calling 800-771-7755.