The holiday season brings plenty of excitement: gift shopping, special deals, packages arriving at your door, and opportunities to give back. Unfortunately, all that extra activity can also create more opportunities for scammers.

From fake shopping websites to package delivery texts, holiday scams can look surprisingly convincing. The good news? A few simple habits can help you spot the warning signs and protect your money and personal information.

Be Careful With Deals That Look Too Good to Be True

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and holiday sales can bring some great deals, but scammers know shoppers are looking for bargains.

You may come across social media ads or unfamiliar websites advertising popular products at prices that seem almost impossible to pass up. Before you click “add to cart,” or put in any personal or card information take a closer look.

Check the website address carefully, look for clear contact and return information, and consider searching for the retailer separately instead of using a link from the advertisement.

If a price seems dramatically lower than everywhere else, that can be a good reason to do a little extra research before entering your payment information.

Think Before You Click on That Delivery Text

During the holidays, it can feel like there’s always another package on the way. Scammers take advantage of that by sending fake delivery notifications that appear to come from well-known shipping companies such as USPS, UPS, Amazon and FedEx.

A message might say your package couldn't be delivered or is delayed, your address needs to be confirmed, or a small fee is required before delivery can be completed.

The goal is often to get you to click a link and enter personal or payment information.

If you receive an unexpected delivery message, avoid clicking the link. Instead, go directly to the shipping company's official website or app and enter your tracking information there.

Watch for Fake Order and Account Emails

Holiday inboxes can fill up quickly with order confirmations, shipping updates, sales, and receipts. That makes it easier for fraudulent emails to blend in.

Be cautious if you receive a message saying:

• An order was placed that you don't recognize
• Your payment failed
• Your account needs to be verified
• You're owed a refund
• You need to update your payment information

Before clicking anything in the email, open the retailer's app or type its website directly into your browser to check your account. You can also call the retailer directly to verify any requests before giving out any personal or card information.

Scammers often rely on creating a sense of urgency, hoping you'll react before taking time to verify the message.

Shop Carefully on Social Media and Online Marketplaces

Social media can be a great place to discover gifts, but not every seller or advertisement is legitimate.

Watch for sellers with very little history, prices that seem unusually low, little to no reviews, or anyone who pressures you to complete a purchase quickly.

You should also be cautious if someone asks you to move the conversation or payment outside of the marketplace you're using. Staying within the platform can provide additional protections and make suspicious activity easier to report.

Before purchasing from an unfamiliar seller, take a few minutes to look into the business and make sure it appears legitimate.

Know the Warning Signs of a Gift Card Scam

Gift cards make easy holiday presents, but they're also a common tool used by scammers.

One of the biggest red flags is someone telling you that you need to purchase gift cards to pay a bill, resolve an account problem, claim a prize, or avoid some type of penalty.

Legitimate businesses and government agencies will not demand payment in gift cards.

When buying gift cards as presents, also take a quick look at the packaging to make sure it hasn't been opened, altered, or tampered with.

Give Generously—But Verify First

The holidays are also a popular time for charitable giving. Unfortunately, scammers sometimes pose as charities or create organizations with names that sound similar to legitimate ones.

Before donating, take a moment to research the organization. Rather than clicking a link from an unexpected email, text, or social media post, visit the charity's official website directly.

Be especially cautious if someone pressures you to donate immediately or asks for payment through an unusual method.

Holiday Shopping Red Flags to Watch For

Whether you're shopping, tracking a package, or checking your inbox, a few warning signs should make you slow down:

• Unexpected links or attachments
• Messages demanding immediate action
• Deals that seem unusually good
• Misspelled or unfamiliar website addresses
• Requests for passwords or verification codes
• Requests for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other unusual forms of payment
• Unexpected requests for personal or financial information

When something doesn't feel quite right, taking an extra minute to verify it can make a big difference.

When in Doubt, Don't Click

Scammers are constantly changing their tactics, but one piece of advice stays the same: if you're unsure, stop before clicking, responding, or sending money.

If you receive a suspicious message involving your FinancialEdge account, don't use the phone number, email address, or link included in the message. Instead, contact FinancialEdge directly using a trusted method.

You can also visit our Scam & Fraud page for more information, common warning signs, and tips to help keep your information safe.

This holiday season, take a little extra time before you click, buy, or reply. A few seconds of caution can help keep scammers off your holiday shopping list—and keep your focus on the things that matter most.

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