The Top Holiday Scams of 2025

Holiday spending is expected to hit record highs this year, $215 billion on gifts and $325 billion on travel and experiences (NerdWallet, 2025). According to the FTC, nearly one in three consumers fell victim to an online scam last holiday season, and experts warn 2025 could be even worse. 

Fraud is evolving—what once filled email inboxes now floods phones via text message and social media. Scammers use fake shipping updates, urgent refunds, and “exclusive deals” to trick shoppers into giving up their personal and financial information. Being aware of the most common holiday scams can help you avoid them. Here are the top 10 schemes to be on the lookout for this year.

The Top Scams to Watch in 2025

Fake Online Deals‍

Scammers take advantage of the holiday rush by setting up fake websites and social media ads that promise hard-to-find gifts or unbelievable discounts. These “too good to be true” deals often lead to clone websites—near-perfect copies of legitimate retailers, with web addresses that differ by just a letter or two. Once you enter your payment details, scammers can steal your money and personal information.

In 2024 alone, consumers lost over $430 million to online purchase scams, representing nearly 15% of all fraud reported to the FTC, with text-based and social media shopping scams growing 50% year-over-year.

During the holidays, it’s easy to get swept up in limited-time offers and “can’t-miss” deals. Take a moment to slow down, double-check the web address, and shop only through trusted retailers to keep your money and information safe.

[Learn: How to Stay Safe When Shopping Online This Holiday Season]

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Shipping and Delivery Scams‍

Shipping and delivery scams surge every holiday season as scammers exploit the flood of online orders and package tracking updates. Fake texts or emails claim there’s a delivery problem, redelivery fee, or suspicious purchase, directing you to look-alike carrier or retailer sites designed to steal your information. Others send fake order confirmations or “rate your delivery” surveys that install malware or capture personal data. These scams are increasingly polished, often AI-written and perfectly timed with real deliveries, so it’s important to stay cautious.

The safest move: never click links or scan QR codes from unexpected messages. Iinstead, track packages only through official retailer or carrier sites or apps.

[See: Watch Out for Package Delivery Scams Around the Holidays]

Brushing Scams ‍

A brushing scam happens when scammers send small, random packages to people who never ordered them, not as gifts, but to create fake sales and positive reviews. The bigger risk is that it means your personal information, like your name and address, has already been exposed. Recently, fraudsters have made these scams more dangerous by adding QR codes to packages that, when scanned, can install malware on your device or steal your personal and financial information. These scams tend to surge during the holiday season, when online shopping peaks and people are more likely to expect — and open — deliveries even if they are unexpected.

[See: Beware of this New Brushing Scam that Uses QR Codes to Steal Personal Information]

Travel Scams‍

Holiday travel scams are on the rise, with nearly 58,000 complaints filed last year and over $270 million lost to travel related scams. Scammers send texts or emails advertising free flights or steep travel discounts that link to spoofed websites designed to steal your information. Others create fake rental listings that vanish once payment is made.

To stay safe, always verify deals directly through trusted travel sites like Airbnb, VRBO, or major airlines, and remember, if the price or offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Tampered & Fake Gift Cards

Gift cards are a go-to gift during the holidays, which also makes them a favorite target for scammers. In just the third quarter of 2024, Americans lost over $54 million to gift card fraud. Some thieves tamper with cards in stores and drain the balance once they’re activated, while others pose as friends, relatives, or even “customer support” asking for gift cards to fix a problem or claim a prize. Scammers also lurk on resale sites, selling stolen or fake cards at a discount.

Be sure to buy gift cards only from trusted retailers, check cards for signs of tampering, and remember, no legitimate company or loved one will ever ask for a gift card as payment.

Fake Charity Websites

Scammers know the holidays inspire generosity and they exploit it through fake charity scams that mimic real nonprofits. These fraudulent organizations often appear legitimate, using lookalike names, fake websites, and emotional appeals to pressure people into giving quickly. They may call, email, or message you on social media asking for donations through wire transfers or gift cards, a red flag.

Before donating, always verify the charity’s name and EIN number through the IRS or your state’s charity registry, and look it up on CharityNavigator.org. Legitimate charities use .org websites and never rush you to give. Taking a moment to verify ensures your generosity reaches the people who truly need it.

Seasonal Job Scams

During the holidays, temporary job scams surge as people look for extra income. Bad actors post fake listings or send texts and emails offering “quick cash” for simple tasks like gift wrapping, package handling, or mystery shopping, sometimes even pretending to represent well-known companies like UPS, FedEx, or Amazon. They may send a check to cover “supplies,” ask for payment upfront, or request personal information for “onboarding.” Once the check bounces or your details are stolen, you’re left with financial loss or identity theft.

Remember, real employers never ask for money or sensitive information before hiring.

Social Media Gift Exchanges

Every holiday season, social media gift exchange scams, often called “Secret Sister” or “Holiday Gift Exchange” make a comeback. They promise that if you send one small gift or gift card, you’ll receive dozens in return. In reality, it’s an illegal pyramid scheme that only works if new people keep joining. Most participants never receive anything, and scammers use the opportunity to collect names, home addresses, and emails - information that can later be used for identity theft or other scams. If you see posts asking you to “send one gift and get six back,” tag friends, or share your address with strangers, scroll past. 

How to Stay Safe This Season

The holidays should be a time for connection and celebration, not stress about scams. As fraud tactics get smarter and more personal, a few simple precautions can go a long way in protecting your finances and peace of mind.

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1. Slow down before you click or buy.

Scammers rely on urgency,  limited-time “deals,” delivery delays, or “act now” messages. Before checking out or clicking a link, pause to verify the website or sender. Make sure the URL starts with “https://” and shows a lock icon. Visit official retailer or carrier sites directly rather than using links from texts, emails, or ads.  For an extra layer of protection, use Google’s Safe Browsing tool, which scans billions of web addresses every day for signs of unsafe or compromised sites. You can quickly check whether a website is safe before entering personal or payment information by visiting transparencyreport.google.com/safe-browsing/search

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2. Watch for fake websites and too-good-to-be-true deals.

During peak shopping season, scammers flood social media with ads for hard-to-find gifts at unbelievable prices. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Fake websites commonly use pressure tactics like countdown timers or “act now” banners. Real retailers usually have clear contact information, legitimate return policies, and high-quality images. Blurry logos, low-resolution graphics, and vague return policies are signs you might be looking at a copycat site.

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3. Skip the “quick cash” job offers.

Be cautious of temporary job listings that skip interviews, state “no experience needed”, and promise fast pay. Real employers won’t ask for upfront fees, gift cards, or personal information like your Social Security number before hiring.

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4. Verify travel and rental listings.

As travel scams rise, avoid deals that seem dramatically cheaper than others. Always book through verified platforms like Airbnb or airline websites, and never click on links from “free flight” emails or social posts.

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5. Be alert to delivery and tracking scams.

Scammers are sending fake shipping updates that look like UPS, FedEx, or Amazon messages. Legitimate carriers will never ask for payments or personal info by text or email. Be especially cautious of texts that claim there’s a problem with your package, a delivery fee to release your order, or a missed delivery notice that urges you to click a link. Some scams even use real-looking tracking numbers or copy official logos. And remember, USPS, UPS, FedEx, and Amazon all offer official apps and notification settings, which are the safest way to track your deliveries during the busy holiday season.

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6. Buy gift cards wisely.‍

Always inspect physical cards for signs of tampering like scratches over the PIN area, exposed codes, or packaging that looks re-glued are all red flags. Avoid purchasing discounted cards from online marketplaces or resale sites, where stolen or already-drained cards often circulate. When buying digital cards, purchase them directly from the retailer’s official website, not through links in emails or social media ads. Avoid making payments with a gift card or sending photos of the card number and PIN. After purchase, keep your receipt until the card is redeemed, and if possible, register the card online so you can track the balance and report fraud quickly if something goes wrong.

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7. Give thoughtfully — and safely.

Before donating, take a moment to verify that the charity is legitimate. Check the organization’s full name, EIN number, and official website, and use trusted tools like CharityNavigator.org or Give.org to confirm its reputation. Real charities typically use .org domains, provide transparent contact information, and will never pressure you to donate immediately or ask for payment through wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Taking a few extra minutes to research ensures your generosity goes exactly where you intend.

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9. Check suspicious messages with ScamCheck.

If you get a text, email, or social media message that feels off, whether it’s about a missed delivery, urgent bank alert, or too-good-to-be-true deal, run it through Carefull ScamCheck. It instantly analyzes the message for signs of a scam and lets you know if it’s safe before you click or reply.

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10. Stay alert and use protection tools.

Scams evolve quickly, but awareness and proactive tools can help. Services like Carefull monitor your accounts for suspicious activity, detect fraud early, and alert you before damage occurs, so you can enjoy the season with peace of mind.

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This holiday season, give yourself the gift of peace of mind. Try Carefull free for 30 days and let ScamCheck, account monitoring, and real-time alerts keep your finances safe.