In 2024, cybercriminals launched over 38 million phishing attacks, impersonating leading marketplaces, banks, and tech retailers. Stolen payment card information continues to fuel dark web activity, with prices for card data ranging between 70 and 315 per set.
Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity leader, has been closely tracking the rise in shopping-related cyberthreats. As consumers eagerly hunt for deals during major sales events like Black Friday, cybercriminals ramp up their efforts to exploit this heightened demand. Their tactics include stealing personal data, draining funds, and deploying malware via fraudulent shopping schemes.
Between January and November 2024, Kasperskys security solutions blocked 38,473,274 phishing attacks targeting online shoppers, payment platforms, and banking systems. Notably, 44 of these attacks used fake banking services as bait a sharp increase of nearly 25 compared to the 30,803,840 phishing attempts recorded during the same period last year.
Kasperskys findings highlight the growing sophistication and volume of threats tied to retail and online transactions, underscoring the need for vigilance as Black Friday approaches.
Scammers frequently impersonate major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Etsy, sending deceptive emails claiming to offer exclusive discounts. These emails link to fake websites designed to mimic legitimate ones, often with subtle errors like misspellings or slightly altered domain names. Victims attempting to shop on these sites typically lose money.
