Security experts from Cyberspace warn the next few weeks could see a flood of scams swarming people's inboxes, as scammers use the period of Christmas to profit from the soaring volume of online shopping and potential offers, according to Metro.

This is why it's crucial for users of email to be cautious in the coming weeks, with more opportunities than ever before for scam emails or fake offers. Most often, this can cause the theft of personal data or malware that gives scammers access to other people's devices.

"With another 10. million threats online expected to be posed Christmas Day and New Year's Day, it's never been more crucial to keep an uncritical eye on any special deals for the holidays, or even unexpected delivery or order information," said Vonny Gamot, Head of EMEA at McAfee.

"Even when an message or email appears authentic, it's a good idea to get directly to the source, regardless of whether it's an online store or delivery provider."

How to guard yourself against frauds using phishing

Online deals that are fake are frequent dangers to look out for If a deal seems too good to be true, you should be wary. If you've received a deal for a particular business, head straight to that retailer via search engines and see whether you can find the same deal. If not, you might be looking at a fake web page.

Other scams that are common include false delivery messages. Be vigilant about what you're expecting, and when and be aware that you should never anticipate paying to book another delivery slot from reputable couriers. Be wary of entering your payment information whenever you're asked for it.

"Many scams work because the scammer creates false sensation of urgency or plays on an emotional high," continued Ms Gamot. "Pause before you respond to any message that seems urgent or alarming particularly if it comes coming from an unknown or unproven sender."