Protect your data before holiday shopping scams hit

The holiday season is the happiest and riskiest time of year to be online. As millions of us prepare for Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday deals, scammers are doing the same.

Every year, they target holiday shoppers with fake websites, “too good to be true” deals, and scam emails that look identical to those from legitimate retailers. But this is the part that most people overlook: scammers don’t rely on luck alone. They already have your personal data before you even click “add to cart.”

From leaked email addresses to exposed phone numbers and addresses, your personal information is bought and sold by data brokers, companies that compile and resell detailed profiles about you. Those profiles are exactly what scammers are using to send realistic “order confirmations,” fake delivery alerts, and “rush payment” text messages during this holiday period and beyond.

Let’s take a look at how this works and what you can do now to stay safe before the Christmas chaos begins.

RETIREES LOSE MILLIONS FROM FAKE HOLIDAY FUNCTIONS AS SCAMMERS EXPLOIT SEASONAL GENEROSITY

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Why scammers love the Christmas season

November to December is a gold mine for cybercriminals. According to CISA, reports of online shopping scams increase during this time of year and vary in their approaches. The reason? We let our guard down when a deal rushes us, distracts us, or excites us. Staying vigilant during the holiday season can help you avoid data exposure and financial loss. These are some of the most common scams you should know about.

ghost stores

The flurry of promotions during the holiday season is the perfect time for “ghost stores” to thrive. It is a fraudulent store that imitates the interface and products of a well-known brand. Once you purchase from such a website, you will never receive your order since the store does not actually exist.

Real world example: Fake IKEA websites appeared with URLs written as “ikeaa-sale.com” and “ikea-blackfriday.shop”, imitating the official ikea.com interface with copied product images, logos and discount banners.

They lured shoppers with deep discounts and clearance offers to steal credit card data. In the end they were reported and removed, but the damage has already been done.

To do? Always check the URL of the store you buy from and only click on links from the store’s official website or social media sites.

Delivery scams

According to recent research, some of the most popular shopping apps, such as Temu, sell your location data to third parties. No wonder you may receive fake delivery text messages.

MAJOR COMPANIES INCLUDING GOOGLE AND DIOR SUFFERED BY MASSIVE SALESFORCE DATA BREACH

Real world example: Temu is a popular app that scammers can imitate. They can easily find your contact information and order details to text “Your order could not be delivered.” Each text contains a phishing link that can install malware on your device or steal your personal information. That’s why Temu warns its users about the messengers they partner with.

To do? Make sure the text messages you receive come from a legitimate messaging service and verify this on the store’s website.

Fake Order Emails

Some scammers use sophisticated phishing tactics to lure victims. They design emails from well-known brands, use an urgent tone, place malicious links and urge you to click on your order status. There is actually no order status – they are stealing your data.

Real world example: Amazon is one of the largest online retailers in the world and that makes the brand easy to imitate. Scammers send emails on behalf of Amazon to try to steal customers’ personal data because their victims have most likely used Amazon, which makes it less suspicious. However, phishing emails have some telltale signs you should pay attention to.

To do? Never click on any suspicious links and always check the sender’s contact information.

Exposure of unwanted data

When you shop online, you need to be mindful of the data you share, including your contact information, purchasing habits, credit card details, and more. All stores collect some type of data about you. However, some companies collect more than you think.

Real world example: The infamous Target controversy in 2012 revealed how big box retailers use data analytics to predict your purchasing behavior. The company collected purchasing data and managed to produce a predictive model for expectant mothers.

They sent out brochures with baby clothes, vouchers for baby formula and more before customers even knew they were pregnant. Fortunately, modern shopping is a little different. You can opt out of the collection of certain data and exercise your right to delete personal information from websites that collect it.

To do? Check what data stores collect about you and request deletion of any private information you don’t want them to have.

THE TRUTH BEHIND THOSE MYSTERIOUS DELIVERY EMAILS IN YOUR INBOX

How scammers find you

Imagine you are searching for gifts online. Within minutes, your activity generates data points: device information, IP address, browsing habits that are fed into online databases. At the same time, data brokers already have your complete profile: age, income, address history, family members and even purchasing behavior. These profiles are sold to marketers and are often leaked to criminal databases.

That’s why scam calls, texts, and emails often seem so “real.” They use your name, the right retailer, even your city. They are not guessing. They have bought your fingerprint.

The “Christmas Cleanup” Your Data Needs

Most people clear their browser cookies or delete old emails to “maintain their privacy.” But that’s like locking your front door and leaving all your personal documents on the grass.

If you want to prevent scammers from targeting you this holiday season, you need to remove your personal data from the source, the databases of the data brokers that fuel these scams.

That’s where a data erasure service comes into play. While no service can guarantee complete removal of your data from the Internet, a data deletion service is truly a smart choice. They are not cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically deleting your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to delete your personal data from the Internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing leak data with information they can find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already available on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already available on the web: Cyberguy.com.

Practical steps before buying

To make sure your online shopping season stays stress- and scam-free, here’s what CyberGuy recommends doing this week:

INSIDE THE DAY OF A SCAMMER AND HOW THEY CARE FOR YOU

1) Run a privacy scan with a data removal service

Before the holiday rush, remove your exposed data from data brokers. You’ll reduce the number of scam calls, emails, and texts you receive this season and protect your financial information before it’s too late.

2) Secure your email

Use strong, unique passwords for each online store or service. Consider a password manager to simplify this.

Next, check to see if your email has been exposed in previous breaches. Our #1 pick for password manager includes a built-in breach scanner that checks to see if your email address or passwords have appeared in known breaches. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and protect those accounts with new, unique credentials.

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com.

3) Look for fake stores

Before clicking on a social media ad or email, hover over the link. Legitimate retailers use secure “https://” URLs and their exact branding, without any additional words or letters.

4) Avoid public Wi-Fi

Don’t purchase or enter payment information over public Wi-Fi at an airport, coffee shop, or shopping mall, for example. Fraudsters can easily intercept unencrypted traffic.

5) Use credit cards or PayPal, not debit cards

HACKERS HIT ONLINE STORES WITH NEW ATTACK

Credit cards have greater protection against fraud and make it easier to dispute unauthorized charges.

6) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

Activate 2FA for your email, banking, and shopping accounts. Even if scammers get your password, they won’t be able to log in without your second verification step.

7) Keep your software and applications updated

Cybercriminals often take advantage of outdated browsers or applications. Update your phone, computer, and shopping apps before the holiday rush to close those security holes.

8) Check your bank and credit statements.

Check your accounts daily during the shopping season. The quicker you spot a suspicious charge, the easier it will be to reverse it and protect your funds.

Kurt’s Key Takeaways

Black Friday through Cyber ​​Monday is the peak time for data collection. Every purchase, coupon code, and registration adds to the profile marketers and data brokers have about you. That info rmation can remain online for years, long after sales end. The good news? It’s easier than ever to get your privacy back. By just taking a few minutes today, you can enjoy the holidays knowing that your personal data is no longer on the open market.

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How sure are you that your personal data isn’t fueling a scam this holiday season? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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