As Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday approach, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today issued a consumer alert urging consumers to remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated holiday shopping scams. Consumer fraud reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with Americans reporting over $12.5 billion in losses—a staggering 25% increase from the previous year, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

“Every year, scammers target Marylanders looking for the perfect gift for their loved ones,” said Attorney General Brown. “This shopping season, verify the retailer you’re buying from and secure your payment information. Don’t let a too-good-to-be-true deal cost more than you bargained for.”