Check Point Warns of 44% Surge in Valentine’s Day Phishing Ahead of 14 February

As Valentine’s Day 2026 approaches, people are turning to online shopping, digital dating, and last-minute gift ideas. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are doing the same.

Check Point researchers have identified a sharp rise in Valentine-themed phishing websites, fraudulent stores, and fake dating platforms designed to steal personal data and payment information.

Attackers build these domains around common search terms like “Valentine’s Day gifts” or “cheap Valentine deals,” making them more likely to appear trustworthy to shoppers in a hurry. Many might remain dormant until days before February 14 to maximize impact.

From March to December 2025, new Valentine-related domains averaged 474 per month. But in January 2026, registrations jumped to 696 — a 44% increase. In just the first five days of February, researchers detected 152 additional domains, a further 36% rise in daily average compared to January. Almost all—97.5%—remain unclassified, meaning they could be activated for malicious use at any moment.

Why Valentine’s Day Is a Prime Target

Cybercriminals take advantage of the emotional nature of Valentine’s Day, people feel urgency, excitement, loneliness, and anticipation. That mix leads to faster clicks, riskier purchases, and less scrutiny.

At the same time:

• Online shopping for gifts spikes.
• Dating activity increases.
• Attackers can quickly activate newly registered domains for short, high-impact campaigns.
• Brand impersonation (Funko, Tinder, and others) makes fake sites look familiar and trustworthy.

Together, these elements create the perfect storm for seasonal scams to thrive. 

How to Stay Safe This Valentine’s Day

A few simple precautions can go a long way:

1. Stick to Trusted Retailers
   Avoid unfamiliar stores, especially when the domain name is Valentine-themed or the deal seems unusually cheap.
2. Double-Check URLs
   Watch for small misspellings like tinnder instead of tinder. When in doubt, type the official site manually.
3. Beware of Odd Payment Requests
   Crypto, gift cards, and wire transfers are red flags. Legitimate retailers won’t push them.
4. Download Dating Apps Only From Official App Stores
   Never use links from emails, texts, or social posts.
5. Ignore Random “Valentine’s Deals.” Messages
   Expect more phishing attempts across email, SMS, and social channels this time of year.
6. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
   Even if credentials are stolen, MFA adds an important layer of protection.