‘Tis the Season of Giving… and Scamming

According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers have stolen a record-breaking $12.5 billion from U.S. consumers in 2025. Worse, the number of scams increases dramatically during the holidays, and elders are prime targets.
 
Scams take so many forms that it is virtually impossible to list them all. Emails, texts, pop-up ads on social media, phone calls—even calls using AI voice generation to imitate loved ones—are more prevalent, convincing, and effective than ever before.
 
Here are some general strategies to avoid falling victim to scams over the holidays.
 
First and foremost, remain vigilant… and skeptical.
There is plenty of truth to the adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Online ads with links to companies selling beautiful clothing, home furnishings, etc. at shockingly low prices are frequently fake. The website may look professional and claim to be from a company in London, New York, or another shopping mecca, but don’t act on impulse. A quick google search asking if the company is legitimate will likely yield the information you need to avoid being duped.
 
Be careful buying gift cards.
Gift cards are popular during the holidays. Steep discounts being offered on gift cards can be a red flag, since scammers often sell expired gift cards.
 
Avoid responding to unsolicited emails and texts, and do not click on their embedded links.
This is frequently a ploy to track a user’s online activity or gather financial information.
 
Look closely at the small print about return policies. 
If the company’s return policy seems confusing, or there is no phone number to call about problems, beware. The vendor may not respond at all to complaints.
 
If you do buy something online, paying with a credit card offers greater protection than using PayPal or Zelle. 
 
If you receive an unsolicited phone call, don’t be afraid to hang up.
Scammers know that people can feel lonely around the holidays. They exploit this by calling and addressing the person by name. They can be quite engaging, offering compliments and peppering the potential victim with questions. The longer you stay on the phone, however, the greater the chance you’ll reveal personal information, agree to send money, or provide plenty of audio to use in an AI-related scam.
 
Beware of “card declined” emails, texts, and calls.
Scammers hope you’ll give them your credit card number, or even an alternative credit card number. Always contact the company who issued the card before providing any information to determine if there is indeed a problem.
 
Watch out for delivery scams.
With all the packages being sent and received during the holidays, it’s not surprising that scammers ratchet up the number of delivery scams. One scam, known as “brushing,” involves sending packages people didn’t order, typically without a return address. According to the Better Business Bureau, a QR code on the package comes with instructions to scan it to find out who sent the package or how to start a return. Scanning the QR code can lead to a phishing website or download malware onto the recipient’s phone.
 
As the holiday season progresses, you should expect a surge in the number of unsolicited text messages with unusual links indicating problems with deliveries from Amazon, UPS, or the U.S. Postal Service. Don’t respond. Scammers will impersonate anyone, including delivery services.
 
I hope you find these tips helpful. Until next time, take care…