FBI Shares Tips to Avoid Holiday Scams

cypac1
14 hours ago
3 min read

The holidays are full of joy, but also full of cyber tricks. This year the FBI is warning shoppers to stay alert as online scams are on the rise. Criminals are posing as trusted retailers, offering incredible deals that turn into financial traps. It is festive phishing season.

Each holiday season thousands of people become victims of scams that steal money, credit card information and other personal details. Scammers use fraudulent online listings, fake auction listings, requests for unusual forms of payment and high pressure tactics to trick well‑meaning people into paying for goods that never arrive or into sending funds to criminals.

Why It Matters

Scammers do more than take money. They can damage your financial accounts, change your credit score or expose your identity for future fraud. The FBI notes that non‑delivery and non‑payment scams together cost people hundreds of millions in reported losses in a single year. Scammers are not just targeting buyers but also sellers and donors. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Law enforcement and consumer advocates are raising awareness of the common types of holiday scams the FBI sees, including:

Non‑delivery scams where a buyer pays online but never receives the item
Non‑payment scams where a seller ships goods but never gets paid
Auction fraud where items are misrepresented on auction sites
Gift card fraud where scammers ask for gift cards instead of normal payment methods

Officials encourage everyone to report suspected scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center as soon as possible and to contact their bank or credit card company if anything looks suspicious.

Here are 5 holiday scam prevention tips directly based on FBI recommendations:

Check Each Website's Legitimacy Confirm the website is real before making a purchase. Look for valid contact information, proper spelling in the URL, and whether the site uses secure HTTPS connections.
Avoid Sellers Who Demand Unusual Payment Methods Do not pay for goods with prepaid gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. These are red flags and hard to trace or recover if fraud occurs.
Beware of Too Good to Be True Deals If a deal or price seems unusually low or urgent, take a moment to research. Scammers often lure victims with unrealistic discounts or time-sensitive offers.
Verify Before Donating During the holidays, scammers impersonate charities. Check organizations on official charity databases like the IRS or Charity Navigator before giving.
Monitor Your Financial Accounts Regularly Keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements. Report any suspicious or unauthorized transactions immediately to your financial institution and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

Takeaway The holidays should be about giving joy not losing peace of mind. By staying alert, verifying before trusting, and choosing secure payment methods you protect more than your wallet you protect your sense of safety. A little skepticism goes a long way toward keeping the season truly merry and bright.

Stay safe out there.

Mars

New Funnies!

The holiday scammer got caught.

Turns out his cookies were tracking more than Santa.

Why did the gingerbread man file a police report?

Someone took a bite out of his credit score.

How do you know a holiday deal is a scam?

When it includes a sleigh, a smartwatch, and a unicorn all for $9.99.

Why was the sleigh flagged for suspicious activity?

Too many unverified chimneys.

What’s the Grinch’s favorite customer review?