The brief pause should extend the window importers have to bring in seasonal merchandise at the current baseline tariff of 10%. The Port of Los Angeles had the busiest June in its 117-year history after companies raced to secure holiday shipments, and July imports look strong so far, according to Gene Seroka, the port’s executive director. “In my view, we’re seeing a peak season push right now to bring in goods ahead of potentially higher tariffs later this summer,” Seroka said Monday. The pace of port activity so far this year reflects a “tariff whipsaw effect” — imports slowing when tariffs kick in and rebounding when they’re paused, he said. “For us consumers, lower inventory levels, fewer selections and higher prices are likely as we head into the holidays.” Smith, who co-owns the two JaZams stores with his partner, Joanne Farrugia, said they started placing holiday orders two months earlier than usual for “certain items that we felt were essential for us to have at particular pricing.” They doubled their warehouse space to store the stockpile. But some shoppers are trying to get ahead of higher prices just like businesses are, he said. He’s noticed customers snapping up items that will likely be popular during the holidays, like Jellycat plush toys and large stuffed unicorns and dogs. Any sales are welcome, but Smith and Farrugia are wary of having to restock at a higher cost. “We’re just trying to be as friendly as we can to the consumer and still have a product portfolio or profile that is gonna meet the needs of all of our various customers, which is getting more and more challenging by the day,” Smith said. Balsam Brands’ Harman said he’s had to resign himself to not having as robust a selection of ornaments and frosted trees to sell as in years’ past. Soon, it will be too late to import meaningful additions to his range of products. “Our purpose as a company is to create joy together, and we’re going to do our very best to do that this year,” Harman said. “We’re just not going to have a bunch of the items that consumers want this year, and that’s not a position we want to be in.”

 

In early 2024, the U.S. Justice Department revealed a troubling case: two North Korean nationals, along with three accomplices, had allegedly infiltrated 64 U.S. companies over six years by posing as remote IT workers. Using a mix of fake websites, proxy computers, and identity fraud, they secured jobs and access to sensitive systems—all under false pretenses.

This isn’t an isolated incident, and experts warn that such deception is only going to increase. According to research firm Gartner, by 2028, one in four job applicants globally could be fake—created using AI-generated profiles and sophisticated digital tools.

So, how can companies protect themselves?

Start with the Résumé—and Your Gut

Julia Frament, head of people and culture at cybersecurity company Ironscales, helps companies spot fraudulent candidates. Her advice? Trust your instincts.

“If a résumé feels overly polished or unusually generic, that could be a red flag it was generated by AI,” Frament explains.

Watch for an overload of buzzwords, vague role descriptions, or a lack of specific accomplishments. A solid résumé should detail measurable results and name real tools, platforms, or systems the candidate has worked with. If it doesn’t, consider it a “pink flag”—something suspicious enough to investigate further.

Check Their Digital Footprint

A strong LinkedIn profile is another signal of authenticity. Sparse activity, few or no connections, and missing endorsements could indicate the applicant is fake or that their profile was recently created.

“If this is a real person, they should have some kind of digital trail,” says Frament.

Don’t Skip the Face-to-Face

The best way to confirm someone’s identity? Meet them. In-person interviews—whether a formal meeting, a coffee chat, or lunch—are still the gold standard. But in today’s remote work world, video calls often have to suffice. That’s where things get tricky.

With advances in AI, scammers can now create shockingly convincing virtual avatars—complete with synthesized voices and facial expressions. But the tech isn’t flawless.

Look out for:

• Lag or desynchronization between lips and speech

• Unnatural clarity of the avatar against the background (real people tend to have blurring around hairlines with virtual backgrounds)

• Hesitations or glitches when responding to spontaneous questions

Frament recommends throwing in a few physical requests: “Ask them to wave, point to a light switch, or touch their face. AI avatars often struggle with these real-time, unscripted actions.”

Test Their Consistency

Another red flag: a mismatch between how someone writes and how they speak.

“If someone is hyper-formal in emails but totally inconsistent or robotic in conversation, that’s something to take note of,” says Frament.

Surprise Them

Finally, if suspicions remain late in the hiring process, a quick, unscheduled video call can be revealing. It doesn’t have to be formal—just a casual check-in to gauge authenticity.

“Scammers are often prepared for scheduled interviews,” says Frament, “but they usually can’t handle surprise interactions.”

As AI continues to blur the lines between real and fake, HR professionals and hiring managers are being called to adapt—not just to screen for talent, but to verify identity.

“Culture fit used to be the priority,” Frament concludes. “Now, we have to assess authenticity, too.”