As the 2025 holiday shopping season reaches its peak with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, cybersecurity experts warn of a sharp rise in sophisticated scams targeting eager consumers. Karina Mitchell, a leading fraud prevention analyst, reveals that digital payment fraud, phishing links disguised as discount offers, and fake delivery notifications now account for 68% of reported cases this November.
"Scammers exploit holiday urgency through fake limited-stock alerts and fraudulent charity drives," Mitchell told KhabarAsia.com. She emphasizes vigilance when clicking SMS links or sharing payment details, noting a 40% year-on-year increase in social media marketplace scams across Asia-Pacific markets.
Key Protection Strategies
1. Verify seller credentials on emerging shopping platforms 2. Use secure payment methods with purchase protection 3. Enable two-factor authentication for all retail accounts 4. Check official tracking numbers directly with carriers
With cross-border e-commerce between Asian markets and North America hitting record volumes this season, financial regulators urge consumers to report suspicious activity immediately. The pattern mirrors 2024's holiday fraud trends but shows increased AI-generated fake product videos targeting high-value electronics shoppers.
