--- title: "Scam-Proofing Your Holiday Season: Holiday Scams to Avoid" description: Learn how to spot holiday scams, including fake shopping deals, phishing emails, and fraudulent shipping texts. 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Routing # 253279031 ![](https://blog.allsouth.org/hubfs/GettyImages-1767592571.jpg) # Scam-Proofing Your Holiday Season: Holiday Scams to Avoid Published by [AllSouth Federal Credit Union](https://blog.allsouth.org/author/allsouth-federal-credit-union) on October 20, 2026 at 11:01 AM The holiday season brings great deals, online shopping, charitable giving, and plenty of package deliveries. Unfortunately, it also creates opportunities for scammers to steal your money and personal information. From fake shopping websites to fraudulent shipping text messages, holiday scams often rely on urgency and excitement to trick unsuspecting consumers. The best way to avoid these types of holiday scams is to verify unexpected messages, shop through trusted websites, and never share sensitive financial information with unverified sources. Here are some of the most common holiday scams to watch out for this season:   ## 1. Fake Holiday Deal Emails Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals can be tempting, but scammers ramp up their operations on these days and often advertise popular products at unbelievably low prices to lure shoppers to fraudulent websites. These sites may imitate legitimate retailers, collect your payment information, and never deliver your purchase. Tip: Visit the retailer’s official website directly instead of clicking on advertisements and promotional emails. Also, check every website’s address for misspellings or unfamiliar domains, and be wary of prices that seem too good to be true.   ## 2. Social Media Shopping Scams Scammers use social media advertisements, fake business profiles, and fraudulent sweepstakes to promote nonexistent products to steal your payment and personal information. They do this by offering steep discounts, giveaways that require sensitive information, or messages asking you to pay outside a trusted platform. Tip: As with fake holiday and shopping website scams, always visit the retailer’s official website directly instead of clicking links on unverified social media profiles or ads. Also, no legitimate giveaway should ever require your banking information, PINs, or sharing verification codes to claim a prize.     ## **3. Fake Shipping Alerts** Expecting a holiday package? Scammers know that most people around the holidays are, so they send fraudulent text messages and emails claiming a delivery is delayed, your address is incorrect, or a small redelivery fee is required. These messages are known as smishing and phishing scams. These scams often create a sense of urgency to lower your guard and direct you to fraudulent websites that collect personal or payment information through malicious links. Tip: Don’t click on unexpected delivery links, especially if they’re trying to create a sense of urgency. Instead, check your package tracking through the retailer’s official website or the shipping company's official website.   ## **4. Gift Card and Charity Scams** During the holidays, scammers often pose as trusted individuals or organizations such as employers, relatives, or charities to take advantage of your goodwill. They may contact you with urgent requests, asking you to buy gift cards or contribute to what appears to be a charitable cause. Be especially cautious if you are pressed to provide gift card numbers or PINs, encounter aggressive appeals for immediate donations, or are directed to donate through unfamiliar links or unverified charities. These are classic warning signs of a scam. Tip: Verify these requests independently and research charities before donating. Legitimate businesses, charities, and government agencies do not require gift cards to receive donations, settle debts, or resolve account issues.   ## How to Protect Yourself and Your Money A few simple habits can help reduce your risk of holiday fraud: - Think before you click. Always verify unexpected messages and links. - Use strong, unique passwords. Enable multifactor authentication whenever possible. - Monitor your accounts. Review transactions and activate account alerts when available. - Choose trusted payment methods. Be cautious of sellers demanding irreversible payments. - Act quickly if something goes wrong or feels off. Contact your financial institution immediately if you suspect fraud or notice unauthorized activity.     ## What Should You Do If You Fall for a Holiday Scam? If you’ve shared financial information, clicked a suspicious link, or sent money to a scammer, take action as soon as possible. - Contact your financial institution through its official phone number or banking app. - Lock or replace compromised cards as appropriate and review recent transactions. - Change any compromised passwords, especially those reused across multiple accounts. - Report suspected fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at [ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/). - If you shared sensitive identity information, visit [IdentityTheft.gov](https://www.identitytheft.gov/) for recovery guidance. Acting quickly may help prevent additional losses, although recovering money is not guaranteed. ## Enjoy a Safer Holiday Season Scammers count on creating urgency, excitement, and distraction to catch people off guard during the holiday season. By verifying messages, shopping carefully, and monitoring your financial accounts, you can help protect your money and personal information throughout the holidays. Your financial security matters to us. If you notice suspicious activity or believe your information has been compromised, please email us at memberservice@allsouth.org or reach out to our Call Center at 803-736-3110 from 8 am to 5 pm (Monday-Friday). Stay safe, shop smart, and have a safe and happy holiday season! To learn more about protecting your identity and your money, check out our [Security Center](https://www.allsouth.org/resources/security-center).     Tags: [Security](https://blog.allsouth.org/tag/security) [Back to Blog](https://blog.allsouth.org) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## Related Articles ## [Watch Out for These Holiday Scams](https://blog.allsouth.org/watch-out-for-these-holiday-scams) ‘Tis the season of giving. The holidays are here, and we’re making our list and checking it twice.... [Read More](https://blog.allsouth.org/watch-out-for-these-holiday-scams) ## [Gift Without Guilt: How to Prep for Holiday Spending.](https://blog.allsouth.org/gift-without-guilt-how-to-prep-for-holiday-spending) The holiday season symbolizes joy and gratitude, but it can also create added financial stress as... [Read More](https://blog.allsouth.org/gift-without-guilt-how-to-prep-for-holiday-spending) ## [Our Team Shares Ways to Save This Holiday Season](https://blog.allsouth.org/our-team-shares-ways-to-save-this-holiday-season) The holiday season is a wonderful time of year for most people. Traditionally, it's a time for... 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