Fake delivery notices, counterfeit toy shops, charity fraud and gift card schemes spike every December. How common holiday scams work and simple habits that protect families.
Investigators who work fraud cases often say the holidays are their busiest season. Shoppers are spending more, shipping more packages, giving to charity and hurrying to find the year’s most popular toys. Scammers know it, and they adapt their schemes to the season.
The good news is that most holiday scams follow recognizable patterns. Knowing those patterns, and building a few simple habits, can protect families from losing money, personal information or holiday cheer. This article describes common holiday scams and practical ways to avoid them. It is general information; if you believe you are a victim of fraud, contact your bank, the relevant platform and law enforcement.
Fake delivery notifications
How it works: a text or email claims a package could not be delivered and asks you to click a link to reschedule or pay a small fee. The link leads to a fake site that collects payment or personal information, or installs malware.
How to avoid it: do not click links in unexpected delivery messages. Track packages directly through the retailer or carrier website or app you already use.
Counterfeit online stores
How it works: fake websites or social media ads offer popular toys and electronics at deep discounts. Shoppers pay and receive nothing, or receive counterfeit or unsafe products.
How to avoid it: shop with retailers you know, check website addresses carefully, look for reviews from independent sources, be wary of prices far below market and pay with credit cards, which may offer stronger protections.
Sold-out toy scams
How it works: when a toy is hard to find, sellers on marketplaces or social media claim to have it and ask for payment through wire transfer, gift cards or payment apps. The toy never arrives.
How to avoid it: avoid paying strangers through methods that offer no protection. Use marketplace payment systems that include buyer protection.
Gift card scams
How it works: scammers demand payment in gift cards, posing as government agencies, utility companies, tech support or even family members in trouble. Others tamper with gift cards in stores, recording card numbers so they can drain the balance once activated.
How to avoid it: no legitimate agency or business demands payment in gift cards. Inspect cards before buying, choose cards from behind the counter when possible and keep receipts.
Charity fraud
How it works: fake charities appeal for donations, often using names similar to real organizations or emotional stories about children, veterans or first responders.
How to avoid it: give to charities you know, research organizations through charity evaluation resources and state charity registries, and be cautious of high-pressure appeals. Give directly through the charity’s official website rather than through links in unsolicited messages.
Grandparent and impostor scams
How it works: a caller pretends to be a grandchild or other relative in trouble, needing money urgently for bail, a hospital bill or travel. Some scams now use voice cloning technology.
How to avoid it: hang up and call your relative directly using a known number. Families can agree on a code word for emergencies.
Phishing emails and texts
How it works: messages appear to come from retailers, banks or payment services, warning of account problems or offering holiday deals, and ask you to log in through a link.
How to avoid it: go directly to the company’s site or app instead of clicking links. Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts.
Fake job and side-income offers
How it works: offers for holiday work-from-home jobs, package reshipping or easy side income may be fronts for fraud or money laundering.
How to avoid it: be wary of jobs that require upfront payment, involve receiving and forwarding packages or money, or seem too good to be true.
Travel scams
How it works: fake vacation rentals, discounted travel packages or fake airline customer service numbers trick travelers into paying for nothing.
How to avoid it: book through reputable platforms, verify rental properties and use official contact numbers.
Scams targeting kids
Children may be targeted through games and apps with offers of free in-game currency or items in exchange for account login information. Teach children never to share passwords and to check with a parent before clicking offers.
Simple habits that protect families
- Slow down; urgency is a scammer’s favorite tool
- Do not click links in unexpected messages
- Use credit cards for online purchases
- Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency to people you do not know
- Check website addresses carefully
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Monitor bank and card statements
- Talk with older relatives and kids about common scams
If you are scammed
- Contact your bank or card issuer immediately
- Change passwords for affected accounts
- Report to the platform where the scam occurred
- Report to the Federal Trade Commission and, for internet crime, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center
- File a report with local police if appropriate
- Keep records of all communications and transactions
Reporting helps investigators identify patterns and may help others avoid the same scam.
Common questions
Can I get my money back?
It depends on the payment method and how quickly you act. Credit cards often offer more protection than other methods.
Are free offers always scams?
Not always, but be cautious about any free offer that requires payment information or sensitive personal details.
How do I check if a charity is real?
Use charity evaluation resources and state registries, and give through official channels.
A quick scenario
Consider a fictional example. On a busy December evening, a parent receives a text that appears to be from a delivery company: “Your package could not be delivered due to an incomplete address. Update here to avoid return.” The parent is expecting several packages, so the message seems plausible. The link leads to a page that looks like the carrier’s website and asks for a small redelivery fee by card.
The warning signs are there: an unexpected message, a link, urgency and a request for payment. The safe response is to ignore the link, open the carrier’s app or website directly and check the tracking number from the original order confirmation. In most cases, the package is on its way as normal.
Talking with older relatives
Older adults are frequent targets of impostor and phone scams, sometimes involving voice cloning or claims of an emergency. A relaxed conversation during a holiday visit can help: explain how common scams work, agree on a family code word, encourage them to hang up and call back using a known number and reassure them that they will never be in trouble for checking. Some families post a short list of scam warning signs near the phone.
Talking with kids and teens
Teens shop online, use payment apps and get offers through games and social media. Talk with them about fake stores, giveaway scams, requests for gift cards and offers of free in-game currency. Encourage them to ask before entering payment details or account passwords anywhere. Remind them that scammers often pose as friends or celebrities.
Protecting packages
Package theft spikes during the holidays. Options include delivery to a workplace or trusted neighbor, package lockers, scheduled deliveries, requiring a signature and tracking deliveries so packages can be brought inside promptly. If a package is stolen, report it to the retailer, the carrier and local police.
Why reporting matters
Many people feel embarrassed after being scammed and do not report it. But scams are designed by people who do this full time, and anyone can be fooled. Reports help investigators connect cases, identify scam operations and warn the public. Even if the money cannot be recovered, a report can protect others.
Keeping the season joyful
Awareness should not turn the holidays into a season of suspicion. A few habits, such as slowing down, checking directly with companies and choosing safe payment methods, protect families without taking the fun out of shopping and giving.
Scam-proofing your holiday budget
Setting a holiday budget and tracking spending helps families notice unexpected charges more quickly. Using a single card for online holiday shopping makes it easier to review transactions, and setting up account alerts for purchases above a certain amount can flag fraud early. Families can also review subscriptions and saved payment methods on shopping sites, removing any they no longer use.
Taking ten minutes before the season begins to review these settings is one of the simplest protections a family can put in place.
One last habit
When something feels off, pause and ask someone you trust before acting. A quick second opinion from a family member, friend or the company itself is often all it takes to stop a scam in its tracks.
Free and safe
Scammers love to dangle “free” offers that turn out to cost money. That is why it is worth knowing a free holiday tradition that really is free. FreePersonalizedLettersFromSanta.com lets parents create a personalized letter from Santa, written from the details they share about their child, in about two minutes with no credit card required. It is a simple way to bring North Pole magic home without worrying about hidden charges.
General information for families. If a child or parent is struggling, a pediatrician, school counselor or mental health professional can help.