Eid Al Adha is a time of celebration, generosity, and coming together but, with scammers getting smarter and more creative, it also creates the perfect opportunity for online fraudsters to strike. Staying one step ahead means knowing their latest tricks and taking simple precautions to protect yourself while shopping online – so you can focus on what truly matters: enjoying the spirit of the holiday with peace of mind.
Rising tide of online fraud
Online fraud is climbing rapidly as Eid shopping moves into the digital space, with scammers eager to exploit the festive rush through fake websites, phishing emails, and “too good to be true” offers. Globally, phishing attacks targeting retail brands have skyrocketed-surging by as much as 2,000%[1] during peak shopping seasons-which highlights just how sophisticated and widespread these threats have become. In Egypt, 43% of consumers surveyed have fallen victim to a scam, with 12 percent experiencing fraud on multiple occasions. While 55 percent of surveyed consumers in Egypt have some degree of confidence in their own ability to spot fraud, 95 percent worry their family, or friends might fall for a scam. 87 percent believe that Gen X digital payment users are most likely to get scammed online. With a growing reliance on digital transactions, staying informed is the best way to protect yourself.
Common Scams to Watch Out For:
1. Fraudsters Want Your Codes
Many banking and financial apps require a one-time passcode for authentication. Scammers impersonate bank or government officials, claiming to need the code to verify a transaction or update security settings. Once they obtain it, they gain access to accounts, putting both money and personal data at risk. The biggest red flag is an unexpected request to reset a password or account information due to a data breach, which 69 percent of survey respondents identified as highly suspicious.
2. Fake Apps and Websites
Be cautious of spoofed apps or websites designed to steal your personal information. Fraudsters even create fake holiday-themed apps which contain malware to infect your devices and collect payment data and login credentials.
3. Gift Card & Fake Charity Scams
Scammers send fake emails or messages requesting donations for Eid charity causes, often using emotional appeals. Some fraudsters ask for payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency, which are harder to trace and recover. Donate only through verified charity websites and avoid requests for gift card payments.
4. Travel-Related Scams
With millions traveling during the holidays, scammers target hotels, vacation and airline industries to steal data and money. Fake travel websites, which lure customers with low prices, upcharge for amenities and then cut off communication with would-be-travelers, leaving them stranded and out of money. Call center scams use malvertising to promote fake sites leading to victims chatting with “customer service” to steal payment details and personal information. Another scam fraudsters are using this holiday season involves a fraudster impersonating a travel company to send a false cancellation email, asking for credit card information to “rebook” a flight.
Tips to Stay Secure:
- Verify Websites: Verify the URLs of the websites that you visit – make sure you verify you’re on the official website of where you are shopping and that the web address has an “https” in front of the site.
- Be Wary of Too-Good-to-Be-True Offers: Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true, and be wary of being asked to pay through methods like cryptocurrency, wire transfers and gift cards.
- Enable Purchase Alerts: Take a moment to sign up for purchase alerts on your accounts to get real-time notifications of all transactions and flag anything unrecognized to your bank immediately.
- Protect OTPs: Never share one-time passcodes or other sensitive information, even with someone claiming to be a bank or government representative.
- Beware of Suspicious Emails and Calls: Double-check directly with the company or institution before sharing any details.
As digital payments become more common, consumers expect higher levels of security. Retailers, banks, and payment providers can build trust by implementing authentication measures such as texted confirmation codes and security badges. According to Visa’s Stay Secure study, 87 percent of Egypt consumers feel safer when required to confirm their identity through a text code, while more than half value visible security icons when making purchases.
By staying vigilant and following a few simple precautions, you can enjoy a secure and worry-free Eid shopping eexperience.
