Are you a criminal's Christmas present?
Thieves take advantage of when people are distracted
Image: Freepik
Scammers are already circling as bonuses land and festive travel gets underway, Investec has warned.
The bank said holiday scam activity “climbs sharply” every year, because criminals know exactly when consumers are rushing to book trips, grab bargains and tick off gift lists.
It isn’t just online fraud that spikes. Insurer data shows housebreakings jump by up to 48% in December, as families travel and suburbs thin out. The week between Christmas and New Year is a hotspot, with criminals watching who leaves and when.
Shopping centres, ATMs and airports are also fertile ground. Security firms warn of more bag snatching, card swapping and follow-home robberies. Packed trolleys, crowded parking lots and distracted shoppers make for easy targets.
The pattern is behavioural. People are rushing, spending more, carrying gifts and cash, and thinking about holidays rather than risk. Criminals understand timing. Just one moment of distraction is often enough.
A “limited offer”, a “final discount” or a “confirm-your-booking message” can be enough to trigger fast decisions, said Investec.
It added that fake travel sites promising “unbeatable” flights, accommodation listings that vanish after payment, cloned online stores and fraudulent courier links are all common ploys.
Scamsters use urgency as their business model. As Investec noted, scammers “aren’t selling fraudulent products, they’re selling time pressure”.
Cybersecurity specialist Nomalizo Hlazo said “today’s scammer doesn’t need high-level technical expertise.”
With AI-generated pages, logo replicas, scripts and leaked personal information, criminals can look legitimate at a glance, said Investec.
Scams often hit when people are distracted.
This can include when consumers booking last-minute accommodation, juggling children at airports or trying to finish work before the holidays are prime targets, said Investec.
Not every scam dangles a bargain. Many operate quietly through phishing. Messages that look like they come from airlines, hotels or online stores can capture banking details, passwords or identity documents.
Even professional emails and HTTPS sites are no guarantee of safety.
Investec’s fraud expert Kevin Hogan urged consumers to take simple steps:
- Don't trust numbers or links sent by the seller
- Don’t rely on screenshots as proof
- Don’t use unconventional payment methods
“If someone insists on instant EFT or refuses secure channels, that’s not convenience, it’s a red flag,” said Hogan.
Hlazo said online safety starts with basics. She said consumers should:
- Use strong, unique passwords
- Enable multifactor authentication
- Always check URLs carefully
- Use virtual bank cards when shopping online
Scamsters thrive on distraction, urgency and trust. But awareness, verified channels and a pause before clicking can protect both wallets and holidays, said Investec.
The bank added that, with a few practical habits, consumers can enjoy the season “safe, stress-free and scam-free”.
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