The U.S. Attorney's Office has issued a warning to consumers about the potential rise in cyberscams during the holiday season, urging vigilance against cybercriminals who target online shoppers, particularly older adults.

"The holiday season is a time for joy and generosity, but it’s also a time when cybercriminals seek to target unsuspecting consumers and exploit increased online activity," stated U.S. Attorney Dena J. King. She emphasized the importance of staying alert while shopping, donating to charity, or seeking seasonal employment online.

According to the FBI's 2023 Internet Crimes Report (IC3), North Carolina ranked among the top 15 states for online financial fraud in terms of complaints and monetary losses. The report noted that $12.5 billion in financial losses were reported last year, with many complaints related to online shopping and "non-delivery" schemes that typically increase during the holidays.

Consumers are advised to be cautious of several common scams this season:

- Fake Online Stores: These scams involve fraudulent websites designed to mimic legitimate stores, often offering deeply discounted prices on popular items.

- Missed Delivery Notifications: Scammers send fake alerts about missed package deliveries to steal personal information through malicious links.

- Gift Card Scams: Fraudsters may sell fake gift cards or trick consumers into using them for fraudulent purchases.

- Fake Charities: Cybercriminals exploit charitable giving by creating fraudulent charities or campaigns.

- Phishing Emails/Texts: Scammers use these communications to steal personal information by prompting users to click on suspicious links.

- Fraudulent Seasonal Jobs: Scammers prey on job seekers with fake listings offering high pay for minimal work.

Older adults are particularly vulnerable to scams throughout the year. The FBI's IC3 report highlighted that individuals aged 60 and older reported losing $3.4 billion due to financial fraud in 2023.

To combat this issue, the U.S. Attorney's Office co-hosted a scam alert seminar in Charlotte aimed at educating older adults about financial fraud. Participants engaged in "Fraud Bingo," an interactive activity designed to teach them how scammers operate and how they can protect themselves.

"Online scams targeting the elderly remain a growing concern in North Carolina," said U.S. Attorney King. "It’s our duty to protect our vulnerable older population from financial fraud."

Examples of scams targeting seniors include lottery phone scams, grandparent scams, romance scams, tech support scams, IRS imposter scams, and sham business opportunities.

Tips for avoiding financial scams include not sharing personal information with strangers, not paying fees for prizes or lottery winnings, deleting phishing emails, ignoring harassing calls, avoiding high-pressure sales pitches or lucrative deals that seem too good to be true.

For reporting elder fraud, contact the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). Victims of online scams should file reports with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or contact local law enforcement.