As the holiday shopping season kicks off, federal and state authorities, including the FBI, are issuing numerous warnings about the surge in online shopping scams targeting Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers. Consumers are cautioned to be vigilant against increasingly sophisticated scams that can lead to fraud, particularly through deceptive ads and fake websites. Local law enforcement and consumer protection agencies are urging shoppers to educate themselves on how to spot phishing campaigns and avoid common scams, such as those related to gift cards and discount codes. With online holiday shopping scams reported to be up significantly from previous years, experts stress the importance of using secure shopping practices and remaining aware of potential scams that aim to exploit unsuspecting buyers during the festive season.