Phishing attacks surge by 620% in the lead-up to Black Friday

80% of phishing attempts analyzed by Darktrace in 2024 impersonated Amazon.

27% of phishing emails observed in 2024 contained over 1,000 characters, indicating the use of generative AI in their creation.

Phishing attempts mimicking US retailers increased by 201% during the week before Thanksgiving (November 15-21) compared to the same week in October.

Phishing attacks exploiting Black Friday increased by 620% in the weeks leading up to the holiday weekend.

54% more phishing emails that spoofed well-known retailers like Macy’s, Walmart, and Target were observed in the week before Thanksgiving compared to the previous week.