CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — As holiday shopping picks up nationwide, federal agencies are urging consumers to stay alert for an increase in online scams, fake ads and fraudulent sellers targeting shoppers looking for seasonal deals.

According to the FBI, thousands of people fall victim to holiday scams every year, ranging from non-delivery schemes, to non-payment scams that leave sellers without compensation.

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported that in 2024, non-payment and non-delivery scams resulted in more than $785 million in losses, while credit-card fraud accounted for another $199 million.

The FBI also warns that fraudulent ads and counterfeit listings can appear convincing. Scammers often imitate major retailers, create look-alike websites or contact buyers through

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