Holiday deals and everyday e‑commerce offer convenience—and an expanding attack surface for scammers. This guide explains the most common online shopping scams, the red flags to look for, how to protect yourself, and where to report fraud (South Africa and global resources).
Why online shopping scams are surging
Every year thousands fall for non‑delivery, non‑payment, auction fraud and gift card scams—losses tied to the holiday season are consistently highlighted by law enforcement (e.g., IC3 data shows non‑payment/non‑delivery scams cost victims $785 million in 2024). [fbi.gov]
South Africa has seen a significant rise too, with the Information Regulator noting a 40% spike in security compromises in the 2025 financial year to date, and law firms warning of fake stores, QR‑code phishing (“quishing”), and AI‑powered impersonation. [it-online.co.za]
The most common e‑commerce scam types (and the red flags)
- Counterfeit/too‑good‑to‑be‑true offers: Deep discounts (50–70%) and poor website quality are classic signals; counterfeit seizures by CBP exceed 23.2 million items annually. [cbp.gov]
- Impersonation ads on social media leading to spoofed sites and fake checkouts. [consumer.ftc.gov]
- Payment method pressure (gift cards, wire transfers, crypto) — a hallmark of fraud. [consumer.ftc.gov]
- Quishing: Malicious QR codes redirecting to fake payment pages or malware. [bcx.co.za]
Practical protection checklist (consumer‑friendly)
- Verify the seller and URL: Search the store name + “review / complaint / scam.” Use only https and look for clear contact details. [consumer.ftc.gov]
- Prefer credit cards for dispute rights; avoid gift cards, wire, or crypto for purchases. [consumer.ftc.gov]
- Watch for fake reviews & poor site quality (grammar, unusual domains). [cbp.gov]
- Keep records (receipts, confirmations) — sellers must ship on time or offer refunds. [consumer.ftc.gov]
- Be extra cautious in SA’s festive season: Expect spikes in fake stores, malicious QR codes, and AI scams. [it-online.co.za], [bcx.co.za]
If you’ve been scammed—act fast
- Report locally: South Africa—contact your bank immediately; consider reporting data breaches to the Information Regulator (POPIA) and fraud to SAPS.
- Report globally: FTC (ReportFraud.ftc.gov), FBI IC3 (ic3.gov). [consumer.ftc.gov], [fbi.gov]
- Use the FTC Action Plan to list trusted contacts and official support numbers ahead of time. [consumer.ftc.gov]
Emerging trends to watch
AI‑driven impersonation, synthetic identities, malicious “shopping” apps, and quishing are rising rapidly in SA and worldwide—defenders are responding with adaptive authentication and behavioural analytics, but consumer vigilance remains critical. [bcx.co.za]
Post References
- Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2025). Holiday scams. https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/holiday-scams [fbi.gov]
- Federal Trade Commission. (2025, Nov 25). How to avoid an online shopping scam this holiday season. https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/11/how-avoid-online-shopping-scam-holiday-season [consumer.ftc.gov]
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (2023, Dec 13). CBP shares top five tips to avoid online scams. https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-shares-top-five-tips-avoid-online-scams [cbp.gov]
- Consumer Financial Protection and Treasury OCCIP advisory reference: U.S. Department of the Treasury. (2024, Dec 12). Consumer advisory to protect against cyber fraud. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2746 [home.treasury.gov]
- IT‑Online. (2025, Nov 27). SA faces cybercrime surge as shopping season begins. https://it-online.co.za/2025/11/27/sa-faces-cybercrime-surge-as-shopping-season-begins/ [it-online.co.za]
- BCX. (2025, Nov 26). Outsmart AI scams and shop securely. https://www.bcx.co.za/technology-insights/black-friday-2025-outsmart-ai-scams-and-shop-securely-in-the-age-of-intelligent-fraud/ [bcx.co.za]
- Federal Trade Commission. (2025, Nov 18). Use this action plan to avoid scams. https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/11/use-action-plan-avoid-scams [consumer.ftc.gov]
