When shopping or donating this holiday season, watch out for schemes trying to swipe your cash or steal your personal information. We’re going to explore 12 examples of underhanded exploitation on this list and help you avoid being financially hoaxed by taking a few simple precautions.
Always exercise common sense with social media ads promoting discounted items, holiday events, job opportunities and donation requests, as well as direct messages from strangers. If you are asked to make a payment or donation by wire transfer, through a third party, or by prepaid debit or gift card, treat it as a red flag.
1. Misleading social media ads
As you scroll through your social media feed, you often see products advertised. Always research before you buy. BBB Scam Tracker receives daily reports of people paying for items that they never receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the one advertised. The 2024 BBB Scam
Tracker Risk Report found that online purchase scams were the fourth riskiest scam reported by consumers in 2024.
2. Social media gift exchanges
Each holiday season this scheme pops back up. The older version was called “Secret Sister.” Newer versions of this scam revolve around exchanging bottles of wine or bourbon; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. Another twist asks you to submit your email to a list where participants get to pick a name and send money to strangers to “pay it forward.” There is even a twist about “Secret Santa Dog” where you buy a $10 gift for your “secret dog.” In all these versions, participants unwittingly share their personal information.
3. Holiday apps
Apple’s App Store and Google Play list dozens of holiday-themed apps where children can video chat live with Santa, light the menorah, watch Santa feed live reindeer, track his sleigh on
Christmas Eve, or relay their holiday wish lists. Review privacy policies to see what information will be collected. Be wary of free apps, as they can sometimes contain more advertising than apps that require a nominal fee. Free apps can also contain malware.
4. Fake toll collection texts
If you’re planning to drive a long distance to visit family or take a vacation this holiday season, watch out for fake road toll collection texts, which have been on the rise this year. In this con, scammers impersonate a state road tollway collection service and text you saying you owe a road toll fee and provide a link to click to make your payment. If you receive a text, don’t click the link. Instead, if you think you may owe road tolls, verify your outstanding balance with the legitimate agency.
5. Free gift cards
Nothing brings good cheer like the word FREE. Scammers have been known to take advantage of this weakness by sending bulk phishing emails requesting personal information to receive free gift cards. In some of these emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies and promise gift cards to reward their loyal customers. They may also use pop-up ads or send text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner of a prize.
6. Temporary holiday jobs
Employment scams were identified as the number one riskiest scam for people ages 18-34 in 2024. If you’re looking for seasonal work this holiday season, keep an eye out for opportunities that seem suspicious. Job seekers need to be wary of employment scams aimed at stealing money and personal information during the job application process. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
7. Impostor scams
Impostor scams can take many forms, especially during the holiday season when you may be purchasing and returning gifts. When shopping online, be on the lookout for fake, look-alike websites created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, making dead-end purchases and sharing private information. When in doubt, go to the business’s website and find their official social media handles, or use the information on the site to reach out.
8. Fake charities
The last few weeks of the year are a busy time for charitable donations. Donors are advised to look out for fraudulent charities and scammers pretending to be individuals in need. Avoid impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. Responsible organizations will welcome a gift tomorrow as much as they do today.
9. Fake shipping notifications
More consumers making online purchases during the holidays leads to an increase in the number of notifications about shipping details from retailers and carriers. Scammers use this surge to send phishing emails and texts about package deliveries with links enclosed that may allow unwanted access to your private information or download malware onto your device.
10. Advent calendars
Each year, there are more and more advent calendars being sold; CNN has a list of over 20 calendars, and many are in hot demand. In past years, the Better Business Bureau received reports to Scam Tracker about advent calendar ads on social media not delivering as promised. Some were not received, and others received inferior products or incomplete orders.
11. Holiday wishlist items
Low-priced luxury goods, jewelry, designer clothing and electronics are almost always cheap counterfeits and knockoffs. The same applies to popular toys. Be very cautious when considering purchases from resellers on Facebook Marketplace and other platforms.
12. Puppy scams
Many families may be considering adding a furry friend to their household this year. However, be on the lookout for scams. Many would-be pet owners turn to the internet to find their future cat or dog, but experts say a shocking 80 percent of sponsored pet advertisements may be fake. Be sure to see the pet in person before making a purchase.