Whether you love or loathe Christmas shopping, this year shoppers are contending with more scams than ever. Fake products, cheap knock-offs and AI generated gifts are flooding the market, and finding the gifts you want (at a price that won’t break the bank) is getting harder.
Fake websites, fake adverts, fake everything
Scammers are advertising well-known brands on fake websites, and selling it to you using fake adverts. These often feature gifts that are sold out, in an attempt to take advantage of desperate shoppers looking for that sought-after present. Although branding and logos might suggest you’re visiting a legitimate website (or a legitimate reseller), you might notice a dodgy looking URL, a concerningly low price tag and a ‘countdown’ for when the deal for the product ends.
These websites aren’t only dangerous for your wallet, they’re also dangerous for your devices. Fake websites like these can also download malware onto your computer, and provide very little security when taking your card payment, leaving you vulnerable to bank details being stolen. If your gift does arrive, you’re likely to receive a low quality version of what you’re after, rather than the real deal.
Christmas 2024, brought to you by AI
2024 has been dominated by AI, and it’s no surprise that scammers are using it to their advantage to see the year out. We’re seeing a ton of AI generated images this year, on adverts for products, across websites and even within the gifts we buy. Those purchasing gifts for kids are likely to be inundated by these kinds of scams, as AI fiction, non-fiction and colouring books can be produced quickly, printed cheaply and sent out easily.
Remember, AI is great at giving us the ‘idea’ of something, rather than accuracy. Do the cats in that colouring book have the right number of feet? Does your Christmas book turn into a western halfway through? Does the recipe for pizza in that cookbook encourage you to use glue to get the cheese to stick to the dough? Asking these kinds of questions before buying means you’re less likely to be disappointed later.
How can I avoid fake products this Christmas?
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Purchase your gifts in person
We appreciate that heading to the stores around Christmas time ramps up the stress, but particularly for items like books and art, checking the product in person means that you’ve been able to have a close look at what you’re buying.
This isn’t a perfect solution; in the U.S. there have been reports of AI art making its way into real life stores. However, you’re far less likely to run into poorly made AI gifts in person than when you’re online. -
Or, get them from a trusted website, with good reviews
We’d advise against purchasing from websites like Amazon and Ebay, or through social media sites like TikTok. It is incredibly easy for scammers to create accounts and start pushing AI products, and you’re likely to receive a low quality gift. Even websites like Etsy aren’t safe.
Instead, choose well known websites that are highly reviewed on TrustPilot or CustomerSure. This means you’re more likely to get a quality product from a website that has a good Christmas returns policy if you, or your recipient, doesn’t like the look of it. -
Check the manufacturer
Finding out who has made your product is incredibly important, particularly when it comes to electronics or children’s toys. Scammers can use AI images of a product to make it look great, but according to CrimeStoppers, the item you receive can be made from toxic, hazardous and flammable materials.
When you’re buying gifts this year, lookout for product certification labels like UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) or CE (European Conformity). These mean that the product you’re purchasing meets the requirements for a product sold in the UK or Europe.
