Online and cryptocurrency scams are skyrocketing during the holiday shopping season. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the surge in transactions and volatile consumer sentiment during Black Friday and Christmas to launch more sophisticated scams than ever before, according to security firm Lionsgate.
The sophistication of scams has reached an "unprecedented" level.
Lionsgate Network said this year’s wave of scams has not only increased rapidly but has also become more organized, with many victims losing money in minutes because they didn’t realize what was wrong.
Criminal groups work together, using social engineering and emotional pressure to attack at the exact time when users are at their busiest.
Notably, the majority of scams originate on popular social media platforms. Fraudsters create fake communities, send friendly messages, or send emergency alerts to lure users into unsafe interactions.
What’s more dangerous is that they mimic real profiles, reputable brands, or customer service representatives almost perfectly, making it much harder to spot scams — especially for inexperienced users.
According to Lionsgate, the main goal of these tricks is not to exploit technological vulnerabilities but to exploit human behavior : gullibility, distraction, or temporary curiosity.
Early detection: the key to holiday survival
With the increasingly complex developments, analysts warn users to pay attention to familiar but very effective warning signs.
Common symptoms include:
“Unbelievable” crypto giveaways and rewards programs.
“Account warning” message, urgent confirmation required.
Email notification of unusual holiday shipping.
Suggest to transfer money to “safe wallet”.
Small details like a misspelling, a URL that's one character off, or a request to click the link immediately.
Lionsgate also introduced a list of “ 12 Christmas Scams ,” which summarizes the most commonly used methods: from fake charity pages, cloned wallet apps, fraudulent crypto investments to limited Non-Fungible Token Mint set up just to drain users’ wallets.
Maintaining safe habits: the best line of defense
Security experts recommend users maintain several important habits:
Always double check website links.
Do not click on strange links in emails or private messages.
Check developer information before installing wallet app.
Use a VPN when accessing financial accounts on public Wi-Fi.
Additionally, be especially wary of self-proclaimed “asset recovery services.” They often appear shortly after a loss, taking advantage of the victim’s panic to scam them again.
Conclusion: Awareness and skepticism are the most powerful weapons
As holiday scams become increasingly sophisticated, investigators say vigilance, patience, and healthy skepticism are the best defenses for cryptocurrency users .
The holiday shopping season is always exciting — and it's also when cybercriminals are most active. Even a moment of distraction can be costly.
