As the holiday season kicks into full gear, so does a rising wave of email scams. Scammers seize this time of year, using deceptive tactics to trick people into giving away sensitive information or money. Whether it’s fake invoices, celebrity endorsements, or malicious threats, these fraudulent emails are everywhere.

If you’re a Gmail user, you’re in luck. Google has ramped up its defenses, fighting back with new, innovative AI technology designed to protect billions of inboxes—especially during this high-risk season. Here’s a look at how Gmail is stepping up its game to combat these scams and what you can do to stay safe in your inbox.

Scammers Go into Overdrive This Holiday Season

Every year, as the holiday season approaches, email scammers go into overdrive. With billions of emails exchanged daily, especially during sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the sheer volume of email traffic presents a perfect storm for scammers to launch their attacks. Since mid-November, we’ve seen a massive uptick in suspicious email activity, making it even harder to spot malicious messages.

It’s no surprise that scammers are targeting holiday shoppers—whether it’s an urgent invoice, an enticing offer from a “celebrity,” or a threatening message to extort money. The holidays make people feel hurried and vulnerable, making them easy prey for these deceitful tactics.

Gmail’s Security Features: Keeping You Safe from Scams

As the world’s largest email provider with over 2.5 billion users, Gmail recognizes the responsibility it has in keeping users safe. Over the years, Gmail has invested heavily in security measures to combat spam, phishing, and malware, blocking over 99.9% of these threats before they even reach your inbox. These efforts are especially crucial during the holidays, as the volume of attacks increases.

Gmail has seen a 35% decrease in the number of scams reaching users’ inboxes this holiday season compared to last year. This improvement is largely thanks to new AI-powered features rolled out over the past year, which have made Gmail’s defenses stronger than ever.

How AI is Transforming Gmail’s Defense Against Scams

AI is at the heart of Gmail’s defense against scams, leveraging advanced models to protect users from a wide variety of threats. One such model is a large language model (LLM) that’s been trained to recognize the subtle patterns of phishing, malware, and spam. This AI has made a huge difference, blocking 20% more spam than ever before and reviewing 1,000 times more user-reported spam each day. This means fewer unwanted and potentially dangerous emails slip through the cracks.

Additionally, a newly introduced AI model acts like a “supervisor” to help filter out risky messages. By instantly evaluating hundreds of threat signals when a suspicious message is flagged, it deploys protections in the blink of an eye, ensuring quicker and more effective detection of potential scams.

Top Scams to Watch Out for This Holiday Season

While Gmail’s defenses are stronger than ever, users need to stay vigilant. Scammers are always adapting and trying new tactics. Here are the top three email scams that are making waves this holiday season:

1. Invoice Scams
   Scammers send fake invoices claiming that you owe money for a product or service. These emails often ask for urgent action, and scammers may even go as far as to convince victims to call and dispute the charges, using that connection to further trick them into making payments.
2. Celebrity Scams
   Many scams this year feature celebrity names—whether pretending the email is from the celebrity themselves or claiming they endorse a product or service. The goal is to exploit the trust people have in famous personalities to convince them to act on fraudulent offers.
3. Extortion Scams
   These vicious scams involve threats, such as emails with personal information (like your home address or even a picture of your house). Some of these emails include threats of harm or blackmail, demanding money in exchange for keeping supposedly acquired personal material secret.

4 Simple Tips to Stay Safe This Holiday Season

While Gmail’s defenses are incredibly effective, scammers are always evolving. It’s just as important for you to be cautious when handling emails. Here are four simple tips to stay safe:

1. Slow it Down
   Scams often create a sense of urgency with phrases like “immediate action required” or “deactivate now.” Take a deep breath and think through the message before you act.
2. Spot Check
   Double-check the details. Does the email make sense? Validate the sender’s email address to ensure it’s legitimate. Scammers often use addresses that seem close to real ones but have small discrepancies.
3. Stop! Don’t Send
   Legitimate companies or people will never demand immediate payment or personal information through email. If you’re unsure, don’t respond—just delete the message.
4. Report Suspicious Emails
   If you spot a suspicious email, report it as spam or phishing in Gmail. Doing so not only helps protect you, but it also helps Gmail improve its security defenses for all users.

Conclusion: Stay Safe and Secure with Gmail

The holiday season may bring festive cheer, but it also brings an uptick in malicious email activity. Gmail’s new AI technology is designed to fight back against these threats, blocking millions of harmful emails before they reach your inbox. However, staying vigilant and following basic email security tips can further ensure that you don’t fall victim to scams.

By working together—whether it’s Gmail’s powerful defenses or your awareness—you can keep your inbox secure this holiday season and beyond. Stay safe, stay informed, and report any suspicious emails to help keep the digital world safer for everyone.