The holiday shopping season is a time of “big deals”, increased spending, and last-minute purchases. For many, black Friday marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season to take advantage of special deals. Cyber Monday is also a time of increased online purchasing. In fact, in 2024, Cyber Monday set a new record, with sales nearly 5.5 times higher than an average day. However, it is also a period when fraud activity surges, as cybercriminals seek to exploit the flurry of transactions and the high volume of online and in-store purchases. As your trusted banking partner, American Riviera Bank is committed to keeping you informed about the risks and strategies to keep you safe during this busy period.
This holiday season marks the trial year for agentic commerce—a new approach in which AI-powered agents assist consumers with shopping decisions, price comparisons, and even making purchases on their behalf. While this innovation promises convenience and efficiency, it also introduces new avenues for potential fraud. As agentic commerce systems gain traction, it is essential for clients to understand both their benefits and the associated risks.
According to McKinsey, agentic commerce could drive up to $1 trillion in orchestrated revenue in the U.S. B2C market by 2030, with global projections reaching $3–5 trillion. As AI agents become more capable and trusted, their role in commerce will expand—redefining how consumers interact with brands and services.
Unlike traditional e-commerce, which relies on manual browsing and checkout, agentic commerce is intent-driven. Consumers express goals (e.g., “book me a flight under $500 that arrives before noon”), and agents handle the rest—navigating platforms, negotiating prices, and finalizing transactions. The risk is that you must trust that the AI agents act in your best interest. Emerging standards like Know Your Agent (KYA) aim to verify agent identity, intent, and authorization—but initially there is a level of concern that there will be more fraud stemming from unauthorized purchases during this trial year. Buyer beware!
The holiday shopping season officially begins on November 11 and extends through the end of the year. Fourth quarter is historically vital for retailers, who earn historically 20 to 30 percent of their annual revenue during this short window. The high concentration of sales activity not only benefits businesses but also attracts fraudsters who seek to exploit increased transaction volumes and the urgency that often accompanies holiday shopping. With accounts buzzing and alerts rolling in, a fake transaction or refund request can blend in. Other contributors include:
We move faster: urgency overrides caution.
Holiday deals are designed to encourage quick decision making. According to the 2024 Holiday Shopping Behavior Survey, 62% of Americans say they buy immediately when they see a holiday deal, and 35% admit they take more risks this time of year. When we rush, we click before thinking, and scammers count on that.
Our inboxes overflow: fake messages blend in.
Shipping notices, order confirmations, donation receipts, travel updates—legitimate alerts make it harder to spot suspicious ones. Scammers slip in “delivery problem” texts or too good to be true discount offers, hoping you'll click without pausing.
Travel adds chaos: distraction creates openings.
Travel season means boarding passes, hotel emails, gate changes, and shared Wi-Fi. Fraud attempts rose 28% during winter travel last year, and Thanksgiving was the single busiest day for online scam attempts. When we’re juggling plans and screens, even savvy travelers can get caught off-guard.
Emotions run high: generosity becomes a target.
During the holidays, we’re generous, hopeful, and focused on family. Scammers know this and often use emotional hooks, a fake charity request, a panicked message pretending to be a loved one, or a too-friendly connection meant to build trust. When emotions run high, even a quick moment of trying to help can lead to a decision we wouldn’t normally make.
During the holidays, several types of scams and fraudulent activities become more prevalent:
While the risks are real, there are several steps you can take to safeguard your finances and personal information during the holiday season:
As your local community bank, American Riviera Bank is dedicated to helping you navigate the holiday shopping season safely. Our fraud experts monitor for unusual activity 24/7, and we provide secure online banking platforms with robust fraud detection systems. If you notice suspicious transactions or believe your information may have been compromised, contact us immediately for support and guidance. We also offer educational resources and can help you set up alerts, two-factor authentication, and other protective measures, through our online banking platform and our Carefull Fraud Solution.
Scams evolve quickly, but awareness and proactive tools can help. Leverage our digital banking tools to monitor your accounts for suspicious activity, detect fraud early, and alert you before damage occurs, so you can enjoy the season with peace of mind. We also offer Carefull, a comprehensive fraud monitoring and prevention platform designed to help individuals and families safeguard their finances. By securely linking your accounts, Carefull continuously monitors for suspicious activity such as unusual transactions, duplicate payments, changes in spending patterns, or signs of identity theft. If any potential threat is detected, immediate alerts are sent so you can take action to secure your accounts and prevent further fraud.
You can also check suspicious messages with Carefull’s ScamCheck service. If you get a text, email, or social media message that feels off, whether it’s about a missed delivery, urgent bank alert, or too-good-to-be-true deal, run it through Carefull ScamCheck. It instantly analyzes the message for signs of a scam and lets you know if it’s safe before you click or reply.
The holiday season is a special time, and with a few simple precautions, you can enjoy it without worry. This year’s introduction of agentic commerce brings both exciting possibilities and new considerations for security. Remember, most frauds can be prevented with vigilance and informed decision-making. We encourage all our clients to stay alert, use our resources, and reach out with any concerns. We're here to help you have a secure holiday shopping experience.
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