The most wonderful time of the year is finally here! With a plethora of holidays, excitement, and gift-giving, there is more online activity than any other time of the year. Unfortunately, this season also brings a spike in scams. From fake toll collection texts to fake charities and fraudulent shopping sites, cybercriminals take advantage of busy, distracted shoppers. Below are the most common holiday scams and the steps you can take to protect yourself or your loved ones this holiday season.
Package delivery scams usually arrive as unexpected texts or emails claiming there’s a problem with your delivery, such as a missed drop-off, unpaid postage, or a delivery delay. The message often creates urgency, saying action is required within hours to avoid return or cancellation. The branding closely resembles USPS, FedEx, UPS, or Amazon, to make people believe they are real updates.
When you click the link, you’re typically redirected to a fake tracking page designed to look legitimate. From there, you may be asked to confirm personal details, enter login credentials, or pay a small “redelivery” or “processing” fee
Protect yourself by:
Porch piracy happens when thieves steal packages left outside homes or businesses. During the holidays, increased deliveries make boxes an easy target. Theft may happen within minutes of delivery, and in some cases, criminals monitor delivery routes or neighborhoods to look for unattended packages. While porch piracy isn’t a cyber scam, it’s still important to take steps to protect your packages during the holidays.
Reduce your risk by:
This year has seen a significant increase in fake text messages claiming you owe road toll fees. They create urgency, demanding immediate payment to avoid fines, and often include a link or reference recent travel to seem believable. Legitimate toll agencies typically do not contact you this way, official notices are sent through mail, apps, or secure websites.
How to protect yourself:
Gift card scams promise free or heavily discounted gift cards from popular retailers. Messages may claim you’ve won a promotion, been selected as a loyal customer, or are eligible for a holiday reward. The offer often expires quickly and requires you to click a link or provide personal information to “claim” the prize.
Stay safe by:
Holiday charity scams take advantage of seasonal generosity. Scammers may impersonate well-known charities or create fake ones, reaching out through phone calls, emails, social media, or crowdfunding pages like GoFundMe . These messages often use emotional language or urgent stories to pressure quick donations.
Before donating:Phishing messages are designed to look like legitimate communications from companies, banks, or even people you know. They may reference recent purchases, account activity, or security alerts. Some scams impersonate family members on social media or via text, asking for money or help and relying on urgency and emotion to bypass skepticism.
They can also commonly impersonate people within your company. During the holidays, someone may pose as your boss or a coworker, asking you to buy gift cards for holiday presents. Preventative measures include hovering over the email address to check if it matches the sender’s usual address and looking for other red flags.
Common red flags:
Fake shopping sites are designed to look professional and trustworthy, often advertising deep discounts on popular or hard-to-find items. These sites may closely mimic real retailers but exist only to collect payment details or personal information. After purchase, items never arrive, or the site disappears entirely.
How to spot a fraudulent site:
Always double-check URLs, read reviews, and make sure the site uses HTTPS.
These steps aren’t just for you, they’re especially important for helping loved ones who may not know how to spot scams or adjust their device settings. Taking time to help family members, friends, or neighbors set up spam filters, call blocking, account alerts, and security features on their phones, computers, and email accounts can significantly reduce their risk. Walking through these protections together and explaining why they matter helps build confidence and makes it easier for them to recognize and avoid scams on their own.
These simple steps dramatically reduce your risk of fraud.
Holiday scams thrive when people are busy, distracted, and rushing to get things done. While scammers continue to evolve their tactics, the good news is that most fraud can be avoided by slowing down, verifying information, and using basic security habits. Being aware of what common scams look like combined with strong account protections and a willingness to double-check goes a long way toward preventing financial loss and identity theft.
Just as important, protecting yourself also means looking out for others. Taking time to talk with loved ones, especially those who may be less familiar with technology or cybersecurity threats, can make a meaningful difference. Encouraging open conversations, setting up security features together, and reminding one another to pause before acting helps create a safer holiday season for everyone.
A little caution, a second opinion, and the right tools can help ensure the holidays stay focused on celebration and not recovery from a scam.
To learn more about protecting yourself from scams and improving your security awareness, explore these helpful resources: