Cybercriminals exploit the period of major discounts and highly sought-after products to deceive consumers, often through advertisements on trusted social networks like Instagram or Facebook. The expert cautions that users click without checking the vendor's reputation or questioning unrealistic discounts of 70% or 80%.
To verify a website's legitimacy, Pérez Juncà recommends using the Whois portal to check the domain creation date. If a supposedly recognized brand has a domain created just 15 days ago, caution is advised. It is also crucial to contact the vendor; if they do not reply, it is a clear warning sign.
“"Right now, with AI, everyone can be a cybercriminal. Before, the scammer took a long time, but now they create a cloned page and scam in just a few hours."
Regarding risk profiles, statistics show that young people are the most likely to fall for scams due to the speed of online purchasing, while older people, despite lack of knowledge, often act with more prudence. AI is expected to worsen the problem, enabling the rapid creation of fake websites and the use of artificial intelligence behind fraudulent calls.
Basic protection tools include keeping the operating system and applications on phones and computers constantly updated, and installing antivirus software. However, the best defense remains common sense, curbing immediacy, and diversifying financial risk by using virtual or prepaid cards for online purchases.
