Safe Shopping Holiday Tips for 2025

Christopher Souza | CEO

The first week of December has come to a close and the holidays are rolling in fast. Shopping online means sharing a lot pf personal details including your name, address, email, phone number, and payment information that are all what cybercriminals have on their wish list. Plus, when you apply for loyalty programs or store credit cards, some companies can even store your social security number. One compromised form is all it takes to lose your identity.

This year has had a rise of social-media scams, fake shopping apps, and phishing attacks. Losses from holiday fraud will continue to climb, but don’t let yourself be a statistic! To help you stay secure, TSI has updated our annual holiday shopping list with 9 essential online-shopping safety tips.

1. Keep Every Device Locked Down

Whether you’re shopping from your laptop, phone, tablet, smartwatch, or even voice-activated assistants, make sure everything is fully updated. Software updates don’t just add new features—they patch security flaws that scammers rely on.

Enable auto-updates, use built-in device security features, and avoid installing apps from unofficial sources. Outdated devices are the easiest targets.

2. Stick to Retailers You Know and Research the Ones You Don’t

The explosion of AI-generated storefronts in 2025 has made it much harder to decipher real shops from fake ones. Some scam sites now use AI to clone real brands’ layouts, logos, and even customer-service chat responses to trick users like you.

Before buying from an unfamiliar retailer:

• Read recent reviews (fake reviews are still common, but patterns of complaints are usually revealing).
• Check that the URL starts with https and is spelled correctly.
• Look for transparent return policies and real customer support contact information.

And if that “once-in-a-lifetime” ad on your social feed seems too perfect? Trust your instincts. Don’t let a scam add more to your holiday stress.

3. Choose Safer Payment Methods

When making an online purchase, use a credit card or secure digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal). These offer stronger fraud protection and keep your bank account safe if something goes wrong.

Debit cards, prepaid cards, wire transfers, and peer-to-peer apps (like Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App) offer little to no protection for unauthorized transactions. No matter what you use, always monitor your statements closely after holiday shopping sprees.

4. Beware of ATM Scams

In 2025, scammers are using ATMs and Bitcoin ATMs (BTMs) to steal money. Victims are often called by someone posing as a bank or law-enforcement officer, told their account is compromised or they owe a fine, then instructed to withdraw cash and deposit it into a crypto ATM. Once the money is turned into cryptocurrency, it is unrecoverable. In some recent U.S. cases, individuals have lost thousands of dollars this way. In Clay County, Missouri, 156 residents have fallen victim to crypto fraud over the last two years leading to over $3 million in losses. Not a single arrest has been made, emphasizing that these scams often leave its victims without any closure or justice.

Always be skeptical of unsolicited calls, never rush to withdraw cash, talk to your local bank tellers if you’re concerned, and realize that legitimate organizations will never demand payment via cryptocurrency.

5. Beware of “Deals” That Defy Reality

A brand-new smartphone for 90% off? Designer sneakers for $12? A gaming console for half price even though it’s sold out everywhere else? Those deals are fiction. Don’t confuse fiction with fact!

In 2025, scammers are using AI-generated graphics and fake influencer videos to promote products that don’t exist.

If the deal sounds impossible, it probably is. Always confirm the retailer’s legitimacy before purchasing, especially when the discount looks like a dream come true.

6. Watch Out for Smarter Holiday Phishing

Phishing emails, texts, and DMs are becoming incredibly convincing thanks to AI tools that mimic writing style, design polished fake emails, and even craft targeted messages about packages you’re expecting.

Red flags to look for:

• Messages urging you to “verify your order” or “update your payment method.”
• Tracking links for packages you didn’t order.
• Customer service numbers which aren’t listed on the retailer’s official site.

Always check the sender, look for typos, avoid clicking unexpected links, and access your account directly through the retailer’s main website.

7. Use a VPN, Especially When Traveling

Holiday trips mean hotel Wi-Fi, airport Wi-Fi, café Wi-Fi, all hotspots that can expose your private information. Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your traffic, making it far harder for prying eyes to intercept your data.

If you must shop while on public Wi-Fi, always connect through a VPN first.

8. Strengthen Your Passwords (or Let a Password Manager Do It)

Unique, complex passwords are more crucial than ever, especially with password-stealing malware and credential-stuffing attacks on the rise. A password manager can generate and store strong passwords for every account, so you don’t reuse the same one everywhere.

As a bonus tip, turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your shopping accounts whenever possible. It’s one of the simplest, most effective ways to stop unauthorized access.

9. Stay Alert and Stay Organized

Holiday shopping is chaotic, but your cybersecurity doesn’t have to be. Keep track of your purchases, save digital receipts, and review your accounts regularly throughout the season.

If something feels off, pause and double-check. Trust your instincts.

The holidays should be joyful, not stressful. With a little awareness and a few smart security steps, you can shop confidently, avoid scams, and keep your personal information safe.

TSI wishes you a safe, happy, and cyber-secure holiday season!

About Technical Support International

TSI is 35-year old cybersecurity (MSSP) and IT support (MSP) company specializing in helping DIB organizations address their NIST 800-171 and CMMC compliance obligations. As a CMMC-AB Registered Provider Organization (RPO), TSI offers a complete NIST 800-171 and CMMC support solution to help guide our clients toward a successful certification audit and provide the assurance that they’re adhering to these expansive compliance requirements.