Five Holiday Scams to Avoid
Ho-ho-hold on before you click. Beware of scams designed to exploit the spirit of giving and the rushed buying decisions of the season.
Guest post from Jeff Honea
The holiday season is an opportunity to celebrate and reconnect, but as we shop for gifts, donate to charities, and travel more frequently, scams targeted to those activities can trick even the most vigilant consumers. By understanding the lure of some of the most common holiday scams, we can avoid them — and help keep the season merry.
#1 Online Retail Scams
One of the most widespread holiday scams involves fake online stores and flash sales. These websites often advertise deep discounts on popular gifts, hoping shoppers will act quickly without investigating. The site might deliver counterfeit products — or nothing at all. Meanwhile, they have your personal information and credit card numbers.
Stay Safe: Shop only from reputable retailers, look for “https” in the URL, and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
#2 Fake Package Delivery Messages
Another growing issue is package delivery scams. As deliveries surge, scammers send fake texts or email alerts claiming there’s a problem with a package. These messages include links that lead to websites that steal your personal information or install malware on your device.
Stay Safe: Instead of clicking links in text or email messages, go directly to the carrier’s official website or contact the sender to check shipment status.
#3 Charity and Donation Scams
The holidays also attract charity-related scams, in which fraudsters create fake fundraisers that exploit your spirit of generosity. They may create ads and websites that look like real organizations you want to support, or make up entirely fake ones. They want your emotional response, your money, and your personal information.
Stay Safe: Before making a donation, verify the organization through independent sources. Avoid donating if the site claims you can only donate via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Use sites like Charity Navigator to verify the reputation of organizations that ask you for money.
#4 Vacation Rental Scams
Travelers are often targeted with vacation rental scams and phishing emails masquerading as airlines or hotels. That exceptional low fare to fly home for the holidays might be so fantastic that it’s fictional. Or that super-cozy cabin in the woods might be as authentic as Santa’s elves.
Stay Safe: Always book through reputable platforms by going directly to their websites rather than clicking on email links. Confirm listings independently when possible. And keep a close eye out for “urgent” messages about itinerary changes — phishers love creating a sense of panic.
#5 Gift Card Scams
Finally, there’s the classic gift card scam: Someone contacts you pretending to be a boss or company executive, a government agency, even a family member in distress, each asking for payment via gift cards. They’ll ask you to buy the cards, then give them the redemption codes over the phone.
Stay Safe: No legitimate organization or authority will ever request payment in gift cards. When purchasing gift cards, always check the strip on the back to make sure the redemption code is still covered.
More Ways to Protect Yourself Against Scams
Slow down and verify before acting on messages or deals.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication for your online accounts.
Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts.
Keep your devices updated with the latest security patches.
Contact organizations directly using verified phone numbers or websites.
Spread the News, Stop the Scams
Stopping scams requires awareness, but it also benefits from collective action. Share this post to let others in your network know what to watch out for. Report suspected scams to the FTC.
And consider joining us and supporting our efforts at Operation Shamrock, as we work to educate the public, mobilize collective action, and disrupt the operations networks of the scam industry.
Together, we can help ensure a safer holiday season for all.
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