PEORIA (25News Now) – As fraud and scams become more sophisticated, Black Friday shoppers will have more difficulty detecting them while shopping online this holiday season.
In 2023, 41% of all scams reported to the Better Business Bureau were from online purchases.
Pearl Technology President Anthony Mini said scammer tactics are strengthening, with websites and advertisements appearing more authentic.
The issue is not just affecting one demographic. Mini said people of all ages have been scammed by the methods used to market products.
“In the past, it was a lot of email. But I think we’re seeing the rise in social media,” he said. “I think with younger people, it is more of that influencer. They’re going after specific products. They’re showing a whole bunch of people using deepfakes endorsing the products.”
Here are tips on how to protect and prevent fraud from the Better Business Bureau, Mini, and the Office of the Illinois …