Unwrapping Scams and How to Protect Yourself
Don’t let fraudsters steal your holiday cheer.
The holiday season should be filled with joy, generosity, and celebration — not scams. Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of the festive spirit to try and trick you into handing over your money or personal information. Make scammers say, “Bah! Humbug!” by learning how to protect yourself from holiday scams.
What is a Holiday Scam?
Scammers use imposter and phishing tactics to get you to share your personal information or send money during the holidays. Here are some common holiday scams to look out for:
Look out for typos, unknown or unrecognized email domains, phishing links, and urgency to pressure you into acting
Fake Delivery Notifications — With so many packages in transit, fraudsters send fake tracking updates or missed delivery notices with phishing links or attachments. If you weren’t expecting a package, delete the message. If you were, confirm directly with the delivery service before opening any links or attachments.
Fake Sales & Giveaways — Scammers lure shoppers with enticing deals or giveaways on popular items. If it seems too good to be true, more than likely it’s a scam.
Be cautious of unverified accounts, unusual or excessive numbers, phishing links, and pressure to like, comment, tag, and share with your friends.
Gift Card Traps — Fraudsters pose as well- known retailers offering free or discounted gift cards. They’re actually after your money and/or personal information.
Fake Charities — Scammers create bogus charities or impersonate real ones to take advantage of holiday generosity. They could also be as creative as making fake crowdfunding accounts asking for donations to a phony cause. Instead of helping those in need, your donation ends up in the wrong hands.
Seasonal Job Scams — Many businesses hire extra help during the holidays, and scammers take advantage of this by posting fake job listings to steal Social Security numbers, bank details, or other sensitive data from applicants.
Be aware of unknown contacts, urgency to act fast, and phishing links.
How to Protect Yourself
Keep your holidays safe and stress-free with these simple precautions:
- Verify that sales, giveaways, delivery notifications, job postings, and charities are legitimate. You can do this by contacting the businesses, delivery services, or charities directly or visiting their official website through an online search.
- Don't open any suspicious links or attachments, especially from unexpected emails or texts. Look for common red flags like subtle typos (happyh0l1days.com), symbols (w!nterg!ve@way#win&big.com), and strange links that are only numbers (http://101/10/1/101).
- Don't share any personal information or send any money unless you can verify that the business or charity is legitimate.
The season of giving doesn’t have to mean giving your money or identity away to the wrong people. With a little caution, you can keep scammers off your holiday guest list and focus on what really matters — celebrating safely with family and friends.
If you think you have been the victim of a scam or believe your Security Service account has been compromised, contact us immediately at 1.888.415.7878.
For more information and resources about fraud and scam prevention, visit our Fraud Awareness page.
