When AI Meets the Holidays: The Scams Parents Should Watch for This Christmas Season
- The White Hatter
- 5 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Well, Halloween is over, so let the Christmas season begin!
The holidays bring connection, giving, and celebration, but they also bring a surge in online and offline scams. With the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI), both shoppers and scammers are turning to technology for very different reasons.
This Christmas, AI isn’t just helping families find the perfect gift, it’s also being used to trick them. Understanding both sides of this emerging technology can help parents protect their families online this Christmas season.
AI as Your Shopping Assistant
We believe that AI agents, like those developed by OpenAI and used by major retailers, will gain traction this Christmas season for three key reasons:
1/ Personalized Gift Discovery and Recommendations
Many shoppers struggle with “what to buy,” especially for those who are hard to shop for. AI can help by asking or inferring details such as the recipient’s interests, price range, or style preferences, then suggesting relevant items. For instance, Walmart uses generative AI tools to respond to prompts like “What’s a good gift for a five-year-old boy?” and offers ideas across categories such as books, toys, and apparel.
2/ Speed, Efficiency, and Decision Support
The holiday shopping period is busy and stressful. for some, AI will reduce decision fatigue by comparing products, finding deals, and filtering options, helping families save time and avoid frustration.
3/ Emerging Acceptance Among Younger Shoppers
Younger consumers are more comfortable experimenting with AI powered tools. Many already rely on them for inspiration, planning, and purchases.
However, AI isn’t perfect. Some tools may recommend out of stock products or misjudge preferences. The more personal data AI uses such as past purchases, browsing history, or habits, the better its suggestions, but that also raises privacy and transparency concerns surrounding targeted ads.
Unfortunately, criminals are also turning to AI to exploit shopper’s trust. From deepfake phone calls to realistic phishing emails, AI has made scams look and sound more convincing than ever. Here’s what parents and caregivers should watch for this season:
The “Help Me!” Call That Isn’t Real
Scammers now use AI to clone voices. A parent might get a call that sounds exactly like their child or grandchild, pleading for money or claiming to be in trouble. Some even use AI generated video.
How to protect your family:
Ask two personal questions only the person calling would know.
Even if the answers seem right, hang up and call back using a known number.
Remind grandparents, they’re often targeted first.
Fake Online Stores and “Too Good To Be True” Deals
AI tools can create fake websites that mimic real ones, complete with generated product photos, fake reviews, and chatbots. After payment, either nothing arrives or a counterfeit does.
Parent and caregiver tip:
Shop from trusted sites you’ve used before.
Check URLs for small misspellings (like “amaz0n”).
Pay by credit card, not debit or e-transfer.
“Your Package Is Delayed” Texts and Emails
AI written phishing messages look nearly identical to those from real companies. Clicking links can install malware or steal your login information.
Parent and caregiver tip:
Don’t click links in texts or emails.
Go directly to the company’s official site or app to check orders.
Talk to teens about how scammers use urgency and curiosity to trick them.
Gift Card and Payment Pressure Scams
Scammers often pose as co-workers, charities, or friends asking for gift cards or urgent payments. AI now personalizes these requests, making them more convincing.
Parent and caregiver tip:
No legitimate organization asks for payment via gift cards.
Verify any request through a trusted source.
Remind teens not to send money or personal info to online “friends.”
Fake Influencers and AI-Generated Endorsements
AI can replicate celebrity voices and faces to promote fake giveaways or deals. These often lead to phishing pages or data collection.
Parent and caregiver tip:
Look for verified accounts before trusting promotions.
Be skeptical of deals asking for payment or personal details.
Remind kids that online popularity doesn’t equal trustworthiness.
Charity Scams That Tug at the Heartstrings
Using AI generated images and emotional storytelling, scammers create fake charities or impersonate real ones.
Parent and caregiver tip:
Verify charities through CanadaHelps.org or the CRA’s charity database.
Donate only through official websites, not social media links.
Account Takeover Bots
AI powered bots constantly attempt to hack online retail accounts that store credit cards.
Parent and caregiver tip:
Use strong, unique passwords for every account.
Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA).
Remind teens never to share login details.
The best defence against AI driven scams is awareness, not fear. A few small steps make a big difference:
Pause before you click. Scammers count on quick reactions, slow down and verify first.
Talk about scams openly. Discuss them while decorating or shopping. Teens who understand tactics are less likely to fall for them.
Keep devices updated. Updates often fix security issues.
Check financial statements weekly. Small fraudulent charges can slip through during busy periods.
AI isn’t going away, and neither are the people who misuse it. However, by turning awareness into action, families can stay one step ahead. The holidays should be about connection and kindness, not cybercrime.
So before clicking “buy now,” replying to that urgent message, or donating to a touching post pause, breath, verify, then celebrate knowing you’ve protected not just your data, but your peace of mind.
Let the Christmas buying season begin!
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
POST SCRIPT - One of our favourite Canadian resources when it comes to staying current specific to onlife fraud is Berle Zwaan and their “Outsmart The Scammer Fraud Prevention Society”:
Webpage - https://www.outsmartthescammer.com/
Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/p/Outsmart-The-Scammer-Fraud-Prevention-Society-61573233827122/
Related Holiday Crime Prevention Strategies We Have Written About:
