Don't Let Scams Spoil Your Holiday Season

The holiday season is here, and while it’s the perfect time to budget for gifts, food, decorations, and charitable giving, you likely don’t have room for unexpected financial losses. Sadly, thousands fall victim to holiday scams yearly, particularly non-delivery and non-payment schemes, leaving them with financial troubles that extend well beyond the festivities.

In this article, we’ll explore five common types of scams you could encounter around the holidays so you’ll know what to look out for and how to avoid them.

1. Secure Your Special Deliveries

Billions of packages are shipped each holiday season, and online scammers have devised several ways to steal joy and money from shippers and recipients. Here are some common package-related scams to look out for:

Texts or emails with links to track packages, update delivery details, or pay fees
Messages urging you to call about delivery issues
“Missed delivery” notes directing you to call a number
Communications with urgent language, errors, or flawed logos claiming to be from shippers or merchants

Tip: Check tracking numbers on your original orders to monitor delivery progress. Avoid clicking links or calling listed numbers if you get messages about missed deliveries, fees, or updating information. Instead, contact the retailer or shipping agency directly using their official website or verified contact details, such as UPS.com, USPS.com, or FedEx.com.

2. Be On Guard for Unusual Gift Card Requests and Offers

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), gift cards are the most reported payment method for scams. Fraud may come in the following forms:

Text messages, emails, voicemails, or social media messages demanding payment by gift card for debts to agencies like the IRS or utilities
Texts, emails, voicemails, or social media messages from loved ones needing help via gift cards
Offers of free gift cards or fake charity fundraisers requesting gift card contributions

Tip: Legitimate entities never demand gift card payments. Verify requests by contacting the person or organization directly. If it seems too good to be true, it likely is.

3. Sidestep Social Media Gift Exchange Schemes

Social media “gift exchanges” are often illegal pyramid schemes that collect personal info and promise gifts you’ll never receive. These scams can lead to identity theft or targeting for future fraud.

Tip: Avoid these large and “secret” gift exchanges on social media. And report these types of social media posts to both the social media provider and the Better Business Bureau.®

4.Take a Second Look at Temporary Job Offers

Many legitimate companies need extra help around the holidays to keep up with increased demand. But scammers are out there taking advantage of opportunities to prey on seasonal job seekers. Be suspicious if you see any of these elements in a job listing:

Requests for payment for your application, training, or supplies
Promises of high wages for routine or low-effort tasks
Requirements that applicants work for free initially to show their skill level

Tip: Apply to local businesses you trust. Avoid listings with suspicious demands like upfront payments or unpaid trial periods.

5. Do Your Research Before You Donate

It’s the season of giving, and many people are being extra generous to the causes and charities they support. Criminals can take advantage of these good intentions by making urgent donation requests, often asking for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

Tip: Always investigate the organization before you donate. Sites like Charity Navigator are a good place to start. Contacting organizations directly and using a credit card is usually wise since most cards come with fraud protection.

What to Do You If You Think You’ve Been Scammed

Watch for potential scams; we hope you'll be safe this holiday season. But if you ever fall into a scammer’s trap or think you might have, there are things you can do to reduce the impact.

First, report the scam to local law enforcement and file a complaint with the FBI, especially if it has resulted in a significant loss or if you think your personal information might be compromised, which could cause you problems in the future.
Temporarily freeze your credit reports to prevent scammers from opening accounts in your name.
Alert your banks and credit institutions to be on the lookout for future suspicious transactions. They may even be able to help you get your money back.
And finally, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission to help protect others from similar scams.