Five Holiday Scams to Avoid

Stay a step ahead of cybercriminals this season by being aware of these scams.


For many of us, the holiday season is about friends, family, food, and shopping! Two of the busiest shopping days of the year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, are at the end of November. Unfortunately, while you’re looking for the perfect gift, cybercriminals are looking for ways to scam you. Ensure your festivities remain merry and bright by avoiding these common schemes.
What to watch for: Scammers create flashy ads with discounted prices to entice shoppers — but if you click, you’ll be taken to a spam website selling knockoffs or a fake store that steals your personal information.
 
How to avoid: Remember that when a "special offer" sounds too good to be true, it usually its. Never click on links in emails or popups with very deep discount offers, and don’t blindly trust social media ads. If you see a deal you’re interested in, navigate to the store or retailer directly (not via the ad) to see if it exists.
What to watch for: The holidays are traditionally the time for giving. It's also the time that cyber criminals try to pry money out of people that mean well. They may solicit donations via email, social media, or phone calls.

How to avoid: It is safest to only donate to charities you already know.
What to watch for: You may see emails supposedly from Amazon or a shipping carrier in your inbox that claim your package has a problem and/or could not be delivered. Many of these are phishing attacks that try to make you click on a link or open an attachment.

How to avoid: Before you open the attachment, contact the retailer to verify that the notification is legitimate. You can also look up your order directly on the website where you made the purchase.
What to watch for: Just as it’s important to stay off spoofed websites, its crucial you avoid downloading fake mobile apps. Fake mobile apps look like the legitimate apps they are mimicking to entice people into downloading them. Cybercriminals can do a variety of bad things with a fake app, from installing malware on a victim’s phone to tricking someone into entering their credit card info while buying non-existent products.

How to avoid: Be wary of apps from unknown developers or those with limited/bad reviews. Best practice is to only use ones you know and trust.
What to watch for: Even though Black Friday and Cyber Monday automatically include some of the best deals of the shopping season, scammers know people always want a better deal. In these scams, they create fake websites that claim to house special discount codes, coupons, or vouchers for popular retailers. At best, these sites are loaded full of ads (and no real coupons). At worst, your device could get infected with malware from a malicious ad.

How to avoid: Don't fall for offers from retailers or social media posts that offer phony vouchers or gift cards paired with special promotions or contests. Companies almost never publicly share valid discount codes over 15 or 20%. Always ensure you check discount codes on the retailer’s official site during the checkout process.





Always trust your instincts—if something feels off, it probably is. By staying informed and vigilant, you can protect yourself from holiday scammers and ensure your season is filled with joy rather than frustration.
 
If you encounter a scam, report it to the appropriate authorities to help protect others. Visit the Federal Trade Commission(Opens in a new Window) to learn more about scams and how you can protect yourself. Safe shopping and happy holidays!