Scammers intensify their efforts during the holiday season, exploiting the rush, stress, and increased spending that characterize this time of year. The Federal Bureau of Investigation warns that fraud schemes spike significantly as criminals deploy sophisticated tactics—including AI-generated offers and phony delivery notifications—to steal money and personal information from unsuspecting victims.
The holiday period creates perfect conditions for fraudsters. People are distracted by family obligations, travel plans, and shopping deadlines, making them less likely to scrutinize suspicious messages or verify deals that appear too good to be true. With money flowing through shopping, travel bookings, and gift exchanges, scammers have numerous opportunities to exploit vulnerable targets.
Common holiday scams
Fake online shopping sites represent one of the most prevalent threats. These professional-looking storefronts advertise steep holiday discounts but disappear after collecting payments without delivering products. Consumers should navigate directly to trusted retailer websites rather than clicking promotional links and use credit cards for easier fraud disputes.
Phishing and smishing attacks flood inboxes with messages impersonating delivery services, claiming shipping problems or requesting order confirmations. These messages aim to harvest login credentials and financial details. Recipients should avoid clicking links in unexpected messages and instead manually type company URLs into browsers to verify account status.
Gift card scams involve tampering with physical cards to drain balances after activation or pressuring victims to pay with gift cards instead of standard methods. Purchasing cards directly from secure locations and retaining receipts provides protection against these schemes.Bogus charity operations emerge during the holidays, exploiting generosity through emotional donation requests. Donors should verify organizations using platforms like Charity Navigator before contributing funds.
Travel scams target holiday travelers with fake airline, hotel, or rental confirmations designed to collect money and personal information. Booking directly through official company channels and confirming reservations via verified apps prevents these frauds.Imposter scams feature criminals posing as customer service representatives on social media to extract sensitive data.
Users should only engage with verified business accounts and never share personal details through direct messages.Non-delivery scams occur when buyers pay for goods they never receive or sellers ship items without receiving payment. Using platforms with buyer and seller protections minimizes these risks.
Protection strategies
Awareness and simple habits provide effective defense. Slowing down before clicking links, verifying sellers through reviews, and favoring credit cards over peer-to-peer payment apps significantly reduce risk. When urgency triggers suspicion, pausing to verify information can prevent costly mistakes and protect finances throughout the holiday season