Stay Safe This Season: 15 Holiday Scams to Avoid

The holiday season is a time for celebration, generosity, and connecting with loved ones. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when scammers ramp up their efforts. With more shopping, traveling, donating, and digital activity happening this time of year, fraudsters see the holidays as the perfect opportunity to take advantage of distracted, overwhelmed, or kind-hearted people.

Below are 15 common scams, many of which become even more active during the holiday months. By understanding how these schemes work, you’ll be better prepared to spot suspicious behavior, protect your finances, and keep your personal information safe throughout the season and into the new year.

Awareness is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your loved ones this holiday season.

1. Imposter & Urgency Scams

Scammers pretend to be government agencies, banks, tech support teams, or even a family member in crisis. They often use fear or urgency—claiming you owe money, your account is locked, or a loved one is in trouble—to push you into acting before you think.

2. Phishing Emails, Texts & Links

These look legitimate but lead you to fake websites or attachments designed to steal your passwords, credit card numbers, or personal information. Phishing messages often mimic well-known companies, complete with logos and convincing wording.

3. Online Shopping & Marketplace Scams

Fraudsters create fake online stores or pose as sellers on social platforms. They offer deals that seem too good to be true, accept payment, and never deliver the product. On resale sites, scammers also impersonate buyers who send fake payment confirmations.

4. Romance & Relationship Scams

Scammers build emotional connections with victims through dating apps, social media, or online forums. After gaining trust, they claim to have an emergency and ask for money, gift cards, or access to financial accounts.

5. Prize, Lottery & Sweepstakes Scams

“You’ve won!” messages claim you're entitled to a prize, but you must first pay a fee, provide bank details, or share personal information to claim it. Legitimate prizes never require upfront payments.

6. Fake Charity & Disaster Relief Scams

Fraudsters take advantage of real tragedies, natural disasters, or crises. They pose as reputable charities and pressure you to donate on the spot without providing verifiable information.

7. Investment, Crypto & Ponzi Schemes

These scams promise high or guaranteed returns with little risk, which no legitimate investment can offer. Many involve cryptocurrency, forex trading, or private “insider opportunities.” Ponzi schemes pay early investors using money from new victims until the scheme collapses.

8. Tech Support & Fake Security Alerts

Pop-ups or callers claim your device is infected and offer to “fix” it by gaining remote access. Once in, scammers install malware, steal information, or charge you for unnecessary services.

9. Job & Work-From-Home Scams

Fraudsters post fake job listings offering high pay with minimal work. They may ask for upfront payments for training, equipment, or background checks, or collect personal data through fake employment forms.

10. Rental & Travel Scams

Scammers advertise homes, apartments, or vacation rentals they don’t actually own. They require deposits or full payments upfront and disappear after receiving the money.

11. Debt Relief & Credit Repair Scams

These schemes promise to eliminate or drastically reduce debt, fix credit scores, or negotiate with lenders for a fee. Many of these claims are false, and scammers often take the money without providing any real service.

12. Fake Check & Overpayment Scams

Victims receive a counterfeit check, deposit it, and are told to send a portion of the money back. When the bank later identifies the check as fake, the victim is responsible for the entire amount.

13. Subscription & Free-Trial Traps

“Free trials” require a credit card but hide terms that lock you into expensive recurring charges. Canceling is often difficult or intentionally confusing.

14. Health & Wellness Scams

Scammers promote miracle cures, fake supplements, untested weight-loss products, or treatments with no scientific basis. They often rely on emotional stories and before-and-after photos to appear credible.

15. Social Media Scams & Impersonations

Fraudsters create fake accounts pretending to be celebrities, companies, or even friends. They promote fake giveaways, investment opportunities, or “get rich quick” schemes—or attempt to steal personal information.

How to Protect Yourself

• Stop and think before acting, especially if someone pressures you.
• Verify requests by contacting companies or loved ones directly using trusted phone numbers. Do not trust caller ID!
• Avoid clicking on unexpected links in emails or texts.
• Never send money, checks, or gift cards to someone you haven’t met in person.
• Use secure passwords and enable two-factor authentication across accounts.

By staying informed and cautious, you can greatly reduce your risk of becoming a victim. The more you recognize the warning signs, the easier it becomes to protect both your finances and your peace of mind.

If you ever have any questions or something doesn't feel quite right, don't hesitate to reach out, stop into any of our locations, or call us - we are always here to help!