1 in 5 Brits fall victim to scams during the festive shopping period, reveals online protection expert McAfee

     

    • Over a fifth of UK shoppers have been the victim of an online scam during the festive shopping period and 61% of those victims lost money as a result
    • The vast majority of Brits (87%) think that AI will impact online scams this festive season, with over half (52%) thinking scam emails and messages will be more believable than ever
    • Almost a third (31%) of consumers do not plan to change their online shopping behaviour this festive season, despite the prevalence of convincing AI-powered scams

    UK, November 15th, 2023 — A new study by online protection company McAfee has found that over a fifth (22%) of Brits have been the victim of an online scam during the festive shopping period, with the majority (61%) of those losing money as a result. Scammers rinsed one in six (16%) victims of over £500 during the Christmas season.

    Now, artificial intelligence (AI) looks set to exacerbate the issue. Last year, over £10 million was lost to online fraud during the festive shopping season. This year, the vast majority of Brits polled (87%) are concerned that AI will up the game even further for cybercriminals, with the tech exploited to create more convincing and sophisticated scams.

    Over half of Brits (52%) think that scam emails and messages will be more believable this festive season than ever and 34% think it will be harder to tell what’s a real message from a retailer or delivery service.

    However, deal-hungry Brits aren’t deterred – over a third (34%) plan to do even more of their Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping online this year – and their eagerness to quickly take advantage of deals, any time of day or night, threatens to increase their chances of being scammed.

    In fact, the survey revealed Brits’ distracted online shopping habits are leaving them at an even greater risk of scams, with 43% admitting to having made a festive online purchase in bed late at night. Nearly a quarter (23%) have made an online Christmas purchase while at work, 18% at the kitchen table during dinner, and 17% have even done their Christmas shopping while on the toilet.

    “The speed and sophistication of scam emails and texts are increasing rapidly due to AI,” commented Vonny Gamot, Head of EMEA at McAfee. “It’s critical that Brits keep on top of their online safety and data privacy, and cast a sceptical eye over any festive deals and unexpected order updates. We mustn’t allow the Black Friday and Christmas shopping period to be a cybercriminal’s window of opportunity to catch busy or distracted shoppers off guard.”

    For those planning to shop online during the festive period, Vonny Gamot has shared her top tips to keep your privacy and identity protected:

    • Think before you click. Cybercriminals use phishing emails or fake sites to lure people into clicking links that could lead to malware. If you receive an email asking you to click on a link, even if it’s a great-sounding deal or indicates it’ll provide useful information, it’s best to avoid interacting with the message altogether. Always go direct to the source and interact with reputable companies.
    • Remember that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Many scams are effective because the scammer creates a false sense of urgency or preys on a heightened emotional state. Pause before you rush to interact with any message that is threatening or urgent, especially if it is from an unknown or unlikely sender.
    • Use AI to beat AI. From blocking dangerous links that appear on text messages, social media, or web browsers, people across all platforms should take advantage of AI-driven technology to browse the web peacefully and securely.

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    About McAfee

    McAfee Corp. is a global leader in online protection for consumers. Focused on protecting people, not just devices, McAfee’s consumer solutions adapt to users’ needs in an always online world, empowering them to live securely through integrated, intuitive solutions that protect their families, communities, and businesses with the right security at the right moment. For more information, please visit https://www.mcafee.com