Holiday Scam Alerts Rise: How to Spot Fake Links and Stay Safe From Phishing Attacks

As the festive season rolls in with cozy drinks, twinkling lights and gift exchanges, it also brings a sharp spike in online scams. Cybercriminals are working overtime during the holidays, using increasingly advanced tactics to trick people into clicking malicious links or sharing sensitive information. Distinguishing between a real website and a fraudulent one has never been more challenging.

Stopping these digital grinches is a constant battle. Data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center shows that phishing and spoofing scams drained more than $70 million from victims during the 2024 holiday season alone.

What makes these scams particularly dangerous is how convincing they’ve become. Many fraudulent links now use standard “https” encryption and domain names that closely resemble legitimate brands, making them appear authentic at first glance.

Clicking on a scam link can lead to serious consequences beyond a ruined holiday mood. Victims may face financial losses, unknowingly hand over credit card details to a fake “Secret Santa,” or download malware that can lock up devices in seconds. Understanding how to identify and avoid scam links is key to staying protected this season.

Scam links commonly appear in phishing

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