San Jose, CA, November 15, 2024 – The 2024 McAfee Global Holiday Shopping Scams Study highlights a rising tide of AI-powered scams threatening consumers this holiday season.
AI-generated deepfakes and phishing schemes are increasingly sophisticated, with 88% of Americans agreeing that AI is amplifying scam tactics. Notably, 1 in 3 Americans aged 18-34 have fallen victim to deepfake scams, compared to just 5% of older shoppers.
McAfee’s data reveals a 495% spike in Black Friday scam emails and a 314% increase in Christmas-related scams between October and early November.
“Scammers now exploit AI to create near-perfect imitations of trusted brands and celebrity endorsements,”
Said Abhishek Karnik, Head of Threat Research at McAfee.
“The holidays are prime time for cybercriminals. Consumers must remain vigilant and think twice about deals that seem too good to be true.”
The report underscores that only half of shoppers consistently verify the authenticity of promotional messages, leaving others vulnerable. Nearly 20% of Americans never check sender credentials before clicking on links. These risks are compounded by the rise of social media shopping, with Gen Z and Millennials most at risk.
McAfee advises consumers to employ AI-driven tools for protection, detect deepfakes by scrutinizing inconsistencies, and rely on holistic online security solutions like McAfee+ to safeguard their identities and finances during the holiday rush.
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