According to Adobe in 2021, shoppers spent about $20 billion online between Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2021.
This year, they estimate that Cyber Monday will bring in $11.2 billion.
Scammers, however, are also attracted to this time of year.
So, before you click “add to cart,” here's what you need to know.
“So many people that are shopping online certainly are looking for bargains and looking for those bargains is where these opportunities sometimes come into play,” said Dr. Bruce Young, Program Director & Professor of Graduate Cybersecurity Studies at Harrisburg University.
One of the most common scams is called a shadow website.
“It looks very official, but it will get people to go on and purchase products and capture payment card information or any kind of credentials,” explained Dr. Young.
It can be tricky to verify these websites, but it is possible.
When asked what signs to look for on a scam website, Dr. Young responded, “So look for what I'll say misspellings specifically in the URL They'll look like a valid website name, but it might just be misspelled by just one character.
A login ID request from an unfamiliar website is another red flag.
“There's really no need for you to create an account to purchase things online. It's just a way that they are gathering information,” continued Dr. Young.
But, if you end up creating an account Dr. Young said, ““Don't reuse passwords that you may use for your bank account information and so forth.”
Internet scammers are also actively trying to get your information by sending links through text messages or emails.
“They're looking to just get you to go to that site and may install malware that you're not aware of,” Dr. Young said.
And, just like computers, phones are also at risk.
“Just remember that your phones are accessing the same sites. Be vigilant because your credentials most likely are saved in that phone and because you're keeping your bank account information there,” finished Dr. Young.
If you feel like you've been scammed, experts say to contact your credit card or bank provider and order a stop payment.