You see an ad on Facebook or Instagram. A name-brand item at 70% off. Limited time only.

You click. The website looks legit. Clean design, working checkout, even a confirmation email after you order.

But the product never arrives. Or what shows up looks nothing like the picture. And now they have your credit card.

Researchers detected more than 10,000 fake advertisements being created daily on social media channels this holiday season. These aren't amateur operations. These "too good to be true" deals often lead to clone websites, near-perfect copies of legitimate retailers, with web addresses that differ by just a letter or two.

How to spot it:

Check the URL carefully. Scammers swap letters or add extra words (like "deals-nike.com" instead of "nike.com"). If you found it through a social media ad, go directly to the retailer's official website instead of clicking the link.

Unusual payment requests are another red flag. If a site asks for gift cards, crypto, or direct bank transfers, it's a scam.

And if the deal seems too good to be true? It is.

Here's what's different this year.

AI has driven a 35% to 40% surge in digital holiday scams from last year. Roughly 1 in 3 major scams now involve artificial intelligence.

What does that mean for you?

Criminals can now create perfect fake websites, emails, chats and even cloned voices in seconds, wiping out the old red flags like bad grammar or low-quality images.

The scam emails look professional. The websites look real. The customer service chatbots respond like actual humans.

Scammers are using AI to rewrite high-pressure messages into friendly holiday promotions that appear harmless. They clone celebrity voices and create visuals that feel festive and professional.

The old advice still works, but you have to be sharper:

Don't trust an email or ad just because it looks polished. Go directly to official websites by typing the address yourself. And if something feels even slightly off, trust that feeling.

The holidays bring out generosity. Scammers know that.

Fake charities soliciting donations through phone calls, emails, crowdfunding platforms, and social media are everywhere right now. Some create entirely fake organizations. Others use copycat names mimicking legitimate charities to steal funds.

They use emotional appeals. Urgent stories about kids, veterans, disaster victims. They want you to give right now, before you have time to think.

Red flags to watch for:

Pressure to act fast. If a caller insists you donate "right now" or tries to guilt you into giving before you hang up, it's likely a scam. Real charities welcome donations anytime.

No details about how money is used. Authentic charities can explain where funds go. Scammers use vague promises like "helping the needy" without specifics.

Untraceable payment methods. Requests for gift cards, wire transfers or peer-to-peer apps like Venmo or Zelle are instant red flags.

Before you donate:

Look up the charity on CharityNavigator.org or the IRS website. Every nonprofit has an Employer Identification Number (EIN) that you can verify. If they can't provide one, don't donate.

And remember: legitimate charities usually use .org websites and never rush you to give.

This text/email is making the rounds right now:

"UPS: Your package could not be delivered due to incomplete address information. Update your details to avoid return: ups-delivery-update.com"

Let's break it down.

First, that URL. UPS doesn't use random domains like "ups-delivery-update.com." The real site is ups.com. Any extra words, hyphens, or unfamiliar domains are a dead giveaway.

Second, the timing. Shipping and delivery scams surge every holiday season as scammers exploit the flood of online orders. They know you're expecting packages, so a "delivery problem" text feels believable.

Third, these messages are increasingly polished, often AI-written and perfectly timed with real deliveries. That's why they catch people off guard.

What to do:

If you receive something that says you have a delivery problem, go back to where you purchased it. You can also go on the shipping site and enter tracking numbers. Don't click links in unexpected texts.