Overview
- Security researchers report a December spike in cloned retail sites, fake giveaways and phishing links sent by WhatsApp, SMS, email and social platforms.
- Specialists say AI now enables quick creation of convincing look‑alike pages and even automated fraud calls, lowering the technical barrier for attackers.
- Argentina’s cybercrime unit counted 34,468 digital‑fraud complaints in 2024, up 21% from 2023, with 63% tied to online schemes and over half linked to e‑commerce.
- Urgency tactics and eye‑catching discounts drive impulsive clicks, and younger frequent online buyers are singled out as especially prone to these traps.
- Recommended defenses include checking domains or WHOIS, avoiding links received by messages, keeping devices and apps updated, using antivirus and two‑factor authentication, and favoring limited‑risk payment methods.