According to Mashable, cybersecurity company Guardio has detected a staggering 30x increase in shopping-related scams and fraudulent text messages over the past month. November 2025 is already the top month for online scams even before Thanksgiving weekend, with unique email addresses promoting Black Friday campaigns jumping by more than 500% in just the past week. The Anti-Phishing Working Group found that 76% of phishing websites now use AI-generated content, eliminating traditional red flags like spelling errors. Scammers are specifically targeting brands including AT&T, Amazon, Apple, Verizon, Costco, and Walmart with urgent account alerts about suspended accounts or declined payments. U.S. consumers lost over $432 million in online shopping scams in 2024 according to FTC data, and 2025 losses are expected to be even higher given these alarming trends.
The AI Scam Revolution
Here’s the thing about AI-powered scams – they’re fundamentally different from what we’ve seen before. Remember when you could spot a phishing attempt from a mile away because of terrible grammar or awkward phrasing? Those days are basically over. Now scammers can create perfect replicas of legitimate websites, complete with convincing product descriptions and professional layouts. And it’s not just text – AI-generated voices and videos can impersonate company employees, making phone verification scams nearly impossible to detect.
black-friday-is-prime-time”>Why Black Friday is Prime Time
So why are scammers so focused on this particular shopping period? It’s not just about the volume of transactions. Think about the psychology here – people are distracted by holiday preparations, stressed about finances, and racing against limited-time deals. That combination creates the perfect storm for scammers. When you get a text saying your Amazon account is suspended right when you’re trying to grab that doorbuster deal, your panic response overrides your usual skepticism. Scammers understand this timing perfectly and are exploiting it with surgical precision.
How to Protect Yourself
The solution is actually pretty simple, though it requires breaking some bad habits. Never click links in unsolicited emails or text messages, even if they look legitimate. Instead, go directly to the company’s website through your browser or official app. If there’s really an issue with your account, you’ll find notifications there. And honestly, if a deal seems too good to be true during Black Friday sales, it probably is – especially if it’s coming through unexpected channels.
Where This is Heading
Looking at the trajectory, this is only going to get worse before it gets better. The FTC’s 2024 data showing $432 million in losses feels like just the beginning. As AI tools become more accessible and sophisticated, we’ll likely see even more personalized and convincing scams. The scary part? We’re in an arms race where scammers are often early adopters of new technology while consumers and even security companies play catch-up. The fundamental rules of online safety haven’t changed, but the stakes have gotten much, much higher.
