The holiday season inspires generosity, gratitude, and community impact. Unfortunately, it also attracts cybercriminals who exploit that goodwill. As donations surge across online platforms, fraudulent fundraisers, deceptive charity campaigns, and social-engineering tactics multiply—putting businesses, donors, and entire communities at risk.
Recent data underscores the scale of the problem. A federal investigation revealed that one telefunding operation placed 1.3 billion deceptive calls, siphoning over $110 million from well-meaning donors. Meanwhile, a Cornell University analysis uncovered hundreds of social media accounts pushing fabricated fundraisers on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X.










