As Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach, cybercriminals are ramping up their tactics, employing techniques like typosquatting, vishing, and smishing to exploit the surge in online shopping. These days have become significant for consumers seeking holiday deals, with a notable increase in online purchases expected this year.
Recent studies indicate that 70% of Spaniards plan to make purchases during this shopping frenzy, marking a 20% rise from last year. This creates a fertile ground for cybercriminals who design social engineering campaigns to deceive users into providing sensitive information.
Common scams during this period include fake coupons, misleading discounts, and flash promotions aimed at unsuspecting shoppers. Additionally, malvertising—where attackers use online ads to distribute malware—poses a significant threat, as does the proliferation of malicious apps masquerading as legitimate services.
Phishing attacks remain prevalent, with scammers impersonating trusted companies to harvest personal and financial data. They often send emails that appear legitimate, urging users to click links that lead to fraudulent websites.
Vishing, or voice phishing, is another method where attackers impersonate companies over the phone to extract confidential information, often claiming to resolve issues with credit cards.
Moreover, smishing—scams delivered via SMS—has gained traction, as well as SIM swapping, where attackers obtain duplicate SIM cards to intercept online services requiring SMS verification.
To safeguard against these threats, users are advised to manually enter URLs, utilize ad blockers, and avoid using social media login buttons for transactions. Employing private browsing modes can also enhance security by limiting tracking cookies.