It might be a month full of fun and festivities, but December is also a very popular time for cyber crooks to pounce. With so many of us buying gifts online and sending messages to friends and family, it's the perfect time for online criminals to try to trick consumers into handing over personal details and even their hard-earned cash.

According to new stats from UK mobile network EE, around one in four (23 percent) of UK shoppers have fallen victim to festive fraud. Estimates from UK Finance put the total bill for Christmas fraud at close to £100 million, with EE’s security partners Norton estimating that each victim loses more than £1,000 after being scammed.

It's a worrying statistic that shouldn't be ignored as it could leave you seriously out of pocket during one of the most expensive times of the year.

EE says it's trying to take some of the sting out of the scammer's tails by blocking millions of texts each month before they reach consumers. However, that doesn't mean some don't slip through the net. That's why the UK provider has just issued some new advice on how to stay safe this Christmas. 

Common Scams of Christmas and what to watch out for.

Smishing: Scam delivery texts/emails saying a parcel has been delayed and requiring a link-click to track its status.

Pressure scams: Time pressure scams, often accompanied by a countdown, are a common tactic scammers use to force shoppers into hasty, ill-considered decisions.

Impersonation scams: Also known as ‘Hi Mum, Hi Dad’ scams, criminals often pose as family members or friends saying they’ve lost their phone and need money.

E-card Scams: Scammers using Christmas e-cards to trick their victims into downloading malware.

Website Spoofing: Fake websites offering too-good-to-be-true deals and discounts on popular items.

If you spot anything that looks a little suspicious, don't open the links or reply to the messages as it could be a cyber crook attempting to steal your identity or cash.

Speaking about the threats, Richard Wainer, Regulatory Affairs Director at BT Group, said “Our commitment to protecting our customers against scams is unwavering. The festive season is the time of year consumers are most likely to be scammed and it’s even more important that people have the tools they need to guard against attempted scams.

“We know people are increasingly anxious that they or their loved ones will be targeted by scammers in the lead up to Christmas, but by raising awareness of some of the most common techniques and providing advice and services such as Scam Guard, we are determined to continue to protect consumers against fraudsters.”