Holiday Scams: What to Watch for Before You Click, Pay, or Give
How can you avoid holiday scams? Pause before responding to unexpected messages, verify retailers and charities independently, and question urgent requests for money or personal information. A familiar logo, believable story, or tempting discount is never enough to confirm that a request is legitimate.
The holidays bring shopping lists, deliveries, and opportunities to give back. They also bring plenty of distractions, and scammers are happy to squeeze themselves into an already crowded inbox.
A few simple habits can help you protect your money while still enjoying the season.
What holiday scams should you watch for?
Holiday scams can appear as fake shopping websites, package delivery messages, fraudulent charity appeals, or requests to pay with gift cards. The details vary, but the goal is similar: get you to act before you have time to check.
Watch for messages that combine an unexpected request with a deadline, threat, or unusually attractive offer. “Your package cannot be delivered” and “Your account will be suspended” are designed to make a quick response feel necessary.
Before acting, ask: Was I expecting this, and can I verify it somewhere else?
Before you click: Is that delivery message real?
Verify delivery messages through the retailer or shipping company’s official website or app, rather than through a link in a text or email.
A message may claim that your package has an incorrect address or that you owe a small redelivery fee. The link can lead to a fake website that collects your payment information.
If you recently placed an order, open your order confirmation or sign in to the retailer’s website independently to check its status. If needed, contact the carrier using a phone number you know is legitimate, not one supplied in the suspicious message.
The same habit helps with unexpected account alerts: close the message and open the company’s official app or website yourself.
Before you pay: How can you spot a fake shopping website?
Check the seller, website address, and purchase terms before entering payment information. When possible, pay by credit card for greater protection if something goes wrong.
A polished website can still be fraudulent. Before buying from an unfamiliar seller:
Search the business name with words such as “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.”
Read the shipping, return, and refund policies.
Check the website address for misspellings or extra words.
Compare the price with other retailers. An extreme discount deserves a closer look.
Keep your receipt and order confirmation.
Also, do not rely on “https” or a padlock symbol as proof that a business is trustworthy. Encryption helps protect information in transit, but scammers can use encrypted websites, too.
A bargain is only a bargain if the purchase actually arrives.
Is someone asking you to pay with gift cards?
An unexpected request to buy gift cards and share the card numbers or PINs is a scam warning sign.
Scammers may pretend to be a supervisor, family member, government agency, or business representative. They might ask you to purchase gift cards to handle an emergency, settle a problem, or complete a confidential favor.
Gift cards make perfectly good presents. The danger is someone pressuring you to buy them and send the information that lets them spend the balance.
If the request appears to come from someone you know, contact that person using a number you already have before taking action. Do not rely on the account or number that sent the request.
Before you give: How can you check a charity?
Research the organization independently and donate through a verified channel. Do not let an urgent appeal rush your decision.
A moving story can make you want to help immediately. Before donating, confirm the charity’s exact name, how it uses donations, and how to reach it.
Be cautious if the person contacting you:
Pressures you to donate immediately.
Refuses to provide information about the organization.
Cannot explain how your donation will be used.
Requests payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer.
A familiar-sounding name is not enough. Take time to find the organization’s official website and review its information before giving.
You can be generous and careful at the same time.
What should you do if you already clicked or paid?
Act promptly if you shared information or sent money. Contact the relevant financial institution or payment provider and explain what happened.
Your next steps depend on what you shared:
If you sent money: Contact your bank, card issuer, gift card company, or payment service immediately. Ask whether the transaction can be stopped, reversed, or refunded.
If you shared a password: Change it promptly, along with any other accounts using the same password.
If you shared personal information: Visit IdentityTheft.gov for guidance.
If you suspect a scam: Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Keep receipts, messages, and transaction details. Recovery is not guaranteed, but taking action quickly can help.
Scams are designed to be convincing. If one catches you off guard, focus on the next step rather than blaming yourself.
A holiday safety check: Pause, verify, then act
Before you click, pay, or give, take a moment to ask:
Was I expecting this request?
Have I verified it through a source I found independently?
Am I being pressured to act before I can check?
Protecting your financial well-being includes protecting the money you spend and share. A brief pause can help keep your holiday plans, and your generosity, on track.