How to avoid scams during Hot Sale 2025?

Hot Sale 2025 not only excites those looking for discounts, it also attracts the attention of those with other intentions: cybercriminals. With millions of people online at the same time and shopping online, hackers see a great opportunity to do their thing. They take advantage of the rush, excitement and sometimes lack of attention to try to steal personal or banking data.

During these days, online shopping skyrockets, and that creates the perfect scenario for frauds. From fake emails to web pages that look real but are not, there are many tricks going around. That's why it's key to be vigilant and not fall into the traps. Here are some of the most common risks you might encounter during the Hot Sale:

1. Booby-trapped emails: Many hackers send emails that look like Hot Sale promotions, but are actually phishing attempts. They ask you to click on links or give personal information. If something seems weird or too good, don't open anything.

2. Fake websites: There are sites that mimic well-known stores almost perfectly. If you don't check the URL or the details of the page, you could end up giving them your passwords or card details without realizing it.

3. Suspiciously good deals: A high-end smartphone at 90% off? Sounds unbelievable... and it probably is. These “bargains” are often the perfect bait to get you to let your guard down.

The excitement of finding that product you've been looking for at half price can work against you. It is easy to get carried away and forget to check if the site is reliable or if the offer is real. Therefore, beyond looking for good prices, the most important thing is to shop carefully and with common sense. That way you can enjoy the Hot Sale without unpleasant surprises.

Read more: Why are we still falling for phishing attacks in the middle of 2025?

Beware: Even trustworthy stores can be a risk

Cybercriminals are leveling up and are now using a little-known but very dangerous technique to sneak into even legitimate online stores. How do they do it? They take advantage of an old tool called JSONP (basically a way to load data from other websites) to sneak malicious code into places that would normally appear safe.

What's most troubling is that these types of attacks are not visible to the naked eye. Instead of using weird ads or clearly fake pages, hackers insert their scripts inside real, well-positioned stores. So when a user clicks on a promotion or enters to buy something, they may be unknowingly redirected to a fake checkout page that looks very similar to the original. That's where they try to steal your bank card details, as if you were making an ordinary purchase.

Unlike other more obvious scams, here the attackers hide behind brands you already know and trust. They can even take advantage of the advertising campaigns and marketing strategies of those same companies (such as SEO or paid ads) to attract traffic to their fake sites. They do this without spending a dime on self-promotion.

The root of the problem is that JSONP is no longer secure. While it was once useful for sharing data between sites, today it poses a risk because everything loaded through it is executed automatically. That means that, if someone manages to hack an API that uses JSONP, they can put malicious code that runs in your browser without you noticing.

What's worse, even some of the most advanced security measures, such as content security policies (CSPs), fail to stop these attacks. Why? Because many sites allow content coming from trusted domains, such as Google's, without a problem, which attackers use to their advantage to better hide.

So, even if you're browsing a trusted store or clicking on legitimate ads, don't let your guard down. The key is to stay alert, update your browser and always protect your bank details before finalizing any online purchase.

Tips to avoid falling for scams during the Hot Sale

With so many offers everywhere, it's easy to get carried away. But if you want to buy with peace of mind and without unpleasant surprises, it is worth following some simple steps to protect your data and avoid falling into fraud.

1. Always enter from the browser, not from suspicious links. It is better to type the address of the site yourself instead of clicking on links that you receive by mail, messages or social networks. Many scams start there.
   
   
2. Check the web address well. Make sure it starts with “https://” and that it has the security padlock in the browser bar. This tells you that the site is encrypted and is safe to enter your data.
   
   
3. Be wary of anything that looks too good. If you see an extremely low price, it's probably a trap. No one gives away expensive products just because it's Hot Sale.
   
   
4. Compare prices and check who is selling to you. Before you buy, take a couple of minutes to see how much the same product costs on other sites. And if you want to go further, check Profeco's Commercial Bureau. There you can see if the store has complaints, why, and if it complies with the law.
   
   
5. Don't share your personal or bank information just like that. If you are asked for your credit card number, password or any other sensitive data by message, mail or forms you didn't ask for, don't even think of writing it down!
   
   
6. Activate the two-step verification (2FA). This double layer of security can save you if someone tries to access your accounts without permission. Use it in your banking apps, PayPal and any payment platform.
   
   
7. Keep everything up to date. Yes, it's lazy, but having your cell phone, computer, browser and antivirus up to date protects you from viruses and malware that can steal your info without you noticing. 

In the end, the important thing is not to let your guard down. Enjoy the Hot Sale, but with a cool head and eyes wide open. Shopping safely does not take away from the fun, on the contrary: it gives you the peace of mind of knowing that your money is well taken care of.