The FBI has issued a chilling warning to Gmail, Outlook, and all US email users: cyber crooks are ramping up holiday scams that infiltrate your inbox and drain your bank accounts.
Holiday Hacks Surge as Cybercriminals Target Email Users
The FBI spotlighted four major scams flooding inboxes this season:
- Non-delivery scams – Buyers pay but never get their goods.
- Non-payment scams – Sellers send products but never get paid.
- Auction fraud – What you order isn’t what shows up.
- Gift card fraud – Scammers demand payment on prepaid cards, nearly impossible to trace.
In 2024 alone, Americans lost a staggering $785 million from non-payment and non-delivery scams. Credit card fraud added another $199 million in losses, with complaints spiking sharply during the post-holiday period, thanks to risky online shopping sprees.
Account Takeover Scams Skyrocket
The FBI also warned about a steep rise in Account Takeover (ATO) scams. Since January 2025, more than 5,100 complaints have been filed with losses topping $262 million.
Stay alert. An innocent click can cost you everything.
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FBI warns: Cybercrooks are jacking bank accounts this holiday season by sneaking scams into your inbox.
