Don't Get Stuffed by Holiday Scams: Thanksgiving & Black Friday Threats to Watch

Thanksgiving is for turkey and gratitude—not getting hacked while hunting Black Friday deals. But cybercriminals love the holidays: phishing attacks surge 118% around Thanksgiving and 229% over Black Friday weekend, fueled by AI-powered fakes that look scarily real (source: Bolster AI 2025 Holiday Scams Report). Fake shopping sites are up 250%, and scammers use deepfakes, malicious QR codes, and "urgent deal" emails to steal your data or money. At Vertechs, we've seen clients dodge these traps with our IT Security tools—here's what to watch for and how to stay safe.

Top Holiday Threats in 2025:

• Phishing Emails & Texts: Fake "exclusive deals" from Amazon or Walmart that lead to credential-stealing sites.

• Bogus Shopping Sites: Knockoffs of real retailers with rock-bottom prices—enter your card, and it's gone.

• AI Deepfakes & Malvertising: Convincing fake ads or voice clones asking for gift card info.

• QR Code Scams: Codes in parking lots or emails that install malware when scanned.

This is why you need to cook your turkey fully

Quick Tips to Shop Safely:

• Verify URLs—look for HTTPS and the real domain (no weird typos like "amaz0n-deals.com").

• Shop directly on known sites or apps, not via email links.

• Use credit cards (better fraud protection) and enable 2FA everywhere.

• Hover before clicking and scan QR codes with your camera app first.

Stay safe next week, and Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Vertechs!