Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are approaching, and with them, the army of digital thieves, or scammers, has also become active. The year 2025 is seeing a massive increase in AI-powered fraud cases, with fraudsters targeting people so cunningly that it’s almost impossible to distinguish between real and fake.
Under the guise of huge discounts, gifts, and delivery updates, your bank account can be emptied. In this article, we’ll expose three of the biggest online scams that can leave you bankrupt this holiday season. By following these powerful tips, you’ll not only be able to protect yourself but also safeguard your hard-earned money from digital thieves.
Fake Delivery Scam
During the festive season, we all shop online and eagerly await our parcels. Scammers take advantage of this excitement. You receive a message that says, “Your parcel could not be delivered. Please update your address.”
Once you click on the link in the message, you’re redirected to a website that looks exactly like that of a reputable courier company. You’re asked to pay ₹5 or ₹10 as an “update fee.” Once you enter your banking details, the scammers gain full access to your account. This year, such cases have increased by 100% compared to last year.
Fake Giveaways
Instagram and Facebook are flooded with “Christmas Gift Giveaways.” Scammers run attractive ads claiming you’re getting a free iPhone or some other expensive gadget.
How does this scam happen:
- You’re told you’re the winner.
- You’re only asked for a “shipping fee” to send the gift.
- In the hope of paying the shipping fee, you share your card details.
Clone Website Scam
These days, scammers have become adept at creating ‘clone websites’ of well-known e-commerce companies. These sites often have URLs that resemble the original (e.g., Amaz0n instead of Amazon).
Here, you’re shown huge discounts of 80% to 90%. People are tempted by the low prices and make the payment. Since these websites are fake, your money goes straight into the scammers’ pockets, and you never receive any goods.
The post Christmas–New Year Scam Alert 2025: 3 Online Frauds That Can Empty Your Bank Account appeared first on Times Bull.