Phishing emails and fake adverts flood inboxes this Christmas - and they’re getting harder to detect than ever
Thousands of scam adverts are published every day, experts warn
· TechRadarNews By Ellen Jennings-Trace published 23 December 2025
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- Study finds Christmas parcel scams have doubled year-on-year
- Over 33,500 phishing attacks have been distributed so far
- Parcel scams, fake giveaways, and false retailer sites are ones to look out for
The holiday season always provides serious opportunities for scammers, who take advantage of the existing sale season, rise in legitimate ads, and general urgency to buy - but this year though, that’s been accelerated by (you guessed it) AI.
Previously, scammers had to take time and effort to create convincing looking phishing attacks or fake web pages - requiring a certain level of skill to trick unsuspecting internet users. But now, all criminals need is AI.
New Check Point research found this Christmas season has already seen over 33,500 holiday-themed phishing attacks distributed, as well as over 10,000 seasonal-themed social media adverts flagged as suspicious.
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What to look for
The researchers identify three particularly common scams this time of year; postage phishing attacks, fake retail sites, and social media ‘giveaways’. AI has enhanced the effectiveness of each of these attacks, but there are still ways to identify a scam.
Most of us will have experienced a parcel scam in recent years, and admittedly, even I have come close to falling for some of these - so be careful, as researchers have seen these scams double since last year.
It usually consists of a fake text or email from a number claiming to be Royal Mail, FedEx, UPS, or the like - letting you know you’ve missed a parcel, or need to provide more information to the courier. It will provide a link, which will eventually lead to credential theft or even payment fraud.
There’s been a similar rise in fake retail sites with huge ‘Christmas deals’, often with AI-driven chat assistants to feign real customer service. These will urge you to take advantage of deals while they last, ultimately stealing your payment information and personal data.
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