Scammers Targeting Chrome, Safari, and Edge Users: FBI Issues Urgent Warning

As the holiday shopping season kicks off, online scammers are on the rise, targeting shoppers with fraudulent websites and scam emails. A recent Forbes report revealed an 89% increase in such websites compared to last year, with 80% of shopping-related emails flagged as scams. Even trusted Google search results are being manipulated to direct users to harmful sites. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning to online shoppers, emphasizing the need to protect themselves during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the entire holiday season. The alert is especially important for users of popular web browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Edge, which hold a majority share of the US market. Shoppers are advised to remain vigilant and follow safety tips to avoid falling victim to these threats. The FBI cautions against deals that seem too good to be true, as holiday scams can result in financial losses and compromise personal information. Precautionary steps recommended by the FBI include being wary of non-delivery scams, non-payment scams, auction fraud, and gift card fraud. In 2023, non-payment and non-delivery scams cost victims over $309 million, while credit card fraud led to $173 million in losses. The IC3 usually receives a high volume of complaints in the early months of the year, indicating a connection to the previous holiday season’s shopping scams. Online shoppers are urged to exercise caution and stay informed to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated online scam tactics during the holiday shopping period.

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