Don’t Let Scammers Steal Your Holiday Cheer

The holidays are busy. Between shopping, traveling, and trying to finish everything before the end of the year, it’s easy to let your guard down. Unfortunately, scammers know this, and they show up in full force every holiday season.

The good news? A little awareness goes a long way. Here are the top three holiday scams to watch out for, plus easy ways to protect yourself.

Fake Online Shopping Deals

That “unbelievable deal” on the must-have gift of the season? It might be fake.

Scammers often set up look-alike websites or social media ads offering huge discounts. Once you place an order, the item never arrives, or you get something very different than what you expected.

How to stay safe:

Stick to retailers you know and trust
Be skeptical of prices that seem too good to be true
Double-check website URLs for misspellings or odd domains
Avoid clicking shopping links from unsolicited emails or texts

If you’ve never heard of the store before, it’s worth doing a quick search before hitting “buy.”

Package Delivery Scams

During the holidays, package delivery texts and emails are everywhere, and scammers use that to their advantage.

You might receive a message saying there’s an issue with your delivery and asking you to click a link or enter personal information. The goal is to steal your data or infect your device with malware.

How to stay safe:

Don’t click links in unexpected delivery messages
Check your order status directly through the retailer or carrier
Remember: legitimate delivery companies won’t ask for sensitive information via text or email

When in doubt, skip the link and go straight to the source.

Gift Card Scams

This one spikes around the holidays. Scammers pose as employers, family members, or charities and urgently ask for gift cards as payment or donations.

Once the gift card numbers are shared, the money is gone and it’s nearly impossible to get back.

How to stay safe:

Never send gift cards to someone you don’t know or trust
Be cautious of urgent or secretive requests
Remember: real businesses and charities don’t ask for gift cards

If someone pressures you to act fast, that’s a big red flag.

Scammers rely on urgency and distraction, two things the holidays already have plenty of. If something feels off, pause, verify, and ask questions.

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