Representative survey by G DATA CyberDefence shows that fraudsters have a particularly easy time during the stressful Christmas period
Many consumers are in the starting blocks as Black Week and Black Friday are just around the corner. They use discounts and favourable prices to fulfil their Christmas wishes for family and friends. As a representative survey by G DATA CyberDefense AG shows, a third of online shoppers run the risk of falling victim to fraud: When comparing prices for a gift, they prefer a cheaper offer even if the retailer is previously unknown. These could be fake shops. G DATA advises caution in the pre-Christmas rush and provides tips for safe gift shopping.
Christmas is just a few weeks away and the pressure is on for consumers: they want to buy the right gifts while keeping within their personal budget. Cyber criminals are therefore particularly active now - it's not just retailers who are expecting the busiest time of the year in terms of sales, fraudsters also sense an opportunity for good business.
"The pre-Christmas period is very lucrative for cyber criminals. Fraudsters capitalise on the stress and carelessness of many online shoppers and rely on fake online shops or fake offers for particularly sought-after goods", explains Tim Berghoff, Security Evangelist at G DATA CyberDefense AG.
The main thing is cheapConsumers often search the internet for the best deal when they want to give a perfume as a gift, for example. If they then have the choice between a cheap offer from an unknown shop and a more expensive alternative from a well-known provider, a third opt for the first option. This is the result of a short representative survey by G DATA. Buyers are therefore taking the risk of falling for a fake offer and not receiving any goods or a fake after paying the purchase price.
This result of the survey also shows how big the problem of fake online offers and shops is: two out of five Germans have already come across a fake on the Internet.
"Fake shops and offers are now springing up like mushrooms and are sometimes also advertised on social networks. However, consumers should also be wary of sales platforms, as fraudsters are also active here time and again. That's why I generally advise people to take a critical approach to offers and look closely", explains Tim Berghoff.
Three tips from Tim Berghoff for more security when buying gifts online
- secure and up-to-date mobile device or computer: Online shoppers should make absolutely sure that their computer, smartphone or tablet is up to date and that all available updates for the programmes or apps and the operating system have been installed. Active virus protection should also be installed.
- secure internet connection: When shopping, users should make sure they have a secure internet connection. The shop URL should be preceded by ‘https’. When travelling, free WLANs should be avoided because they are not securely encrypted. Access data for online shops and other sensitive information can be read by third parties.
- take a close look: If an offer seems ‘too good to be true’, consumers should refrain from buying it. The provider's information, including the terms and conditions, should be read through - any additional costs and shipping costs should also be visible. When making a purchase, it is best to choose payment on account and not to pay in advance.
1,000 internet users from Germany were surveyed in November 2024 for the short survey by G DATA CyberDefence. The representative short survey was conducted by OmniQuest GmbH.