With the holiday season just days away, it's not only a great time to spend with family, celebrate with gifts, and enjoy deals and discounts, but it also creates opportunities for scammers. That's why consumers should be vigilant.

According to Michael Jabbara, Global Director of Fraud Services at Visa, “Just as regular consumers are excited about the shopping season, so they are scammers, because it gives them the opportunity to capitalize on these feelings and illicitly collect payment details or other personal information from unsuspecting victims,” he said. And with the use of artificial intelligence, many scammers are implementing these tools to expose their victims, stealing their personal or payment data. That's why we're presenting you with the most common types of scams during this time of year, so you can be much more vigilant against any irregularities: Fake Trips Christmas is undoubtedly one of the busiest times of year for vacationers, and scammers take advantage of this by sending emails from fake travel agencies where victims often provide a wealth of personal information for bookings. Therefore, it's best to be vigilant about these types of scams and always access legitimate websites.

Fake Retail Sales

The same often happens with store websites that appear real at first glance, but were created solely to scam. They allow consumers to make their purchase and pay online in order to access their credit card information. Others send products that don't match the advertised quality or simply never send the purchased product or item.

“Scammers make a living from this and are very good at it. They shouldn't be underestimated. If a consumer has the feeling that an offer is too good to be true, or if a website seems suspicious, it should be verified,” said Jabbara.

Charity Scams

This is undoubtedly the highest season with the donations and charity, and this can also be exploited by unscrupulous people who take advantage of the generosity of others. In this case, scammers create fake charities to profit from them.They may present themselves through websites where victims are also required to provide personal information. It is always advisable to ensure that the organization you wish to donate to is legitimate.

Job Offers

It is also true that during these seasons many people look for side jobs while on vacation; but scammers also often take advantage of people's financial situations and offer fake jobs. "We see 'job offers' that tell workers they must pay a fee to apply for the position or for a background check. That is a clear sign of a scam," said Jabbara.

Package Delivery

Finally, be wary of text messages indicating “delivery problems” with an online order you clearly did not place. These are precisely the messages scammers send to access their victims' personal data. In this case, it is recommended not to click on any unknown links, no matter how legitimate they may seem.