Holiday Deals Aren’t the Only Thing You Need to Watch Out For

Shop Smart This Holiday Season and Keep Scammers from Stealing Your Cheer (or Your Info)

The holiday shopping season is here and those Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals can be tempting. Before you dive into those amazing holiday deals, remember scammers are out there too, and they’re after you, not the deals.

Whether you’re elbowing your way through crowded stores or scrolling online for steals, it’s easy to get caught in a scam. 

Even in person, scammers are active. Busy stores and parking lots make it easier for thieves to swipe wallets, phones, or sneak a peek at your card details. Some criminals attach card skimmers to gas pumps and retail terminals to steal information quietly. Yahoo Finance reported that the global market for payment card skimming was valued at US $3.4 Billion in 2024.

As more and more shopping moves online, scammers shift tactics. According to Fox News, 30% of cybercrime happens on Black Friday and 11% on Cyber Monday. Common tricks include fake e-shops that mimic popular sites, inconsistent payment claims, phishing text messages (also called “shmishing”), and emails claiming there’s a problem with your payment. Many shoppers don’t realize they’ve been scammed until their orders never arrive.

How to protect yourself

• Use secure payment methods like credit cards or PayPal
• Avoid shopping on public Wi-Fi
• Double-check emails and texts to make sure they are from the retailer
• Use strong, unique passwords on all your accounts
• Trust your instincts if something feels off

Loop8 Protects Your Personal Data So You Can Shop with Confidence

With Loop8, your information stays safe and fully under your control. Using your unique Face ID or fingerprint, you can securely store and access your personal data while you shop. Take charge of your privacy with Loop8.

• Use passwordless login to protect your accounts without weak or reused passwords

• Store sensitive documents and info (like bank account information) securely in MySafe

• Browse safely with Privacy-Mate, which flags unsafe websites

• Block hidden trackers with Clean-Slate to keep your shopping history private

This holiday season, the only thing you should stress over is which recipe to make, not whether someone is trying to steal your information. With Loop8, you can shop safely on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond. Keep your info safe, shop smart, and enjoy the hunt—we’ve got your back.