5 Holiday Scams to Avoid in 2022

Chase
·4 min read

We call out scams involving gift cards, charities, deliveries and more.

It's that time of year when Santa's coming to town, but so are the fraudsters who want to take advantage of general good will and generosity! Fortunately, we've got all the details on five common holiday scams to avoid (and warn your family members about).

So, to protect your holiday cheer (and finances) this season, here are a few of the most common types of scams along with helpful tips from Chase to help protect yourself.

Charity Scams

According to a recent study from AARP, charity scams are the most common type of holiday scam. To make sure your donation really goes to those in need, follow these simple steps:

  • Research: Unless it’s a known organization, research the organization before making a donation by visiting charity evaluation sites such as Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, GuideStar, or the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. The Internal Revenue Service’s Tax Exempt Organization Search tool can also help confirm if an organization is eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions.

  • Donate safely: Use secure services to make the donations—avoid making donations through text messages or in cash, and never share your social security number!

  • Keep records: Don't forget to keep records of your charitable contributions. This can be helpful when preparing to file your taxes.

Delivery Scams

  • Scam alert! As holiday packages are delivered around the country, scammers send out phishing scam emails disguised as UPS, FedEx or U.S. Postal Service with a link to view your "missed deliveries."

  • Whatever you do, don't click on these links as they will often lead to phony sign-in pages asking for personal information or to websites infected with malware.

Related: How Can I Avoid Scams That Target the Elderly?

Online Shopping Scams

  • It’s so easy to shop online, especially during the busy holiday season. It’s also easy for scammers to extract information if you’re not protecting yourself.

  • Steer clear of private sellers with goods for sale at a price that seems too good to be true or with hard-luck stories, such as a need to sell quickly because of family loss, divorce or military deployment (these stories are also common in text scams).

  • Buy directly from a retailer's official website and avoid websites offering unrealistic discounts on popular merchandise.

Related: 10 Common Cash App Scams

Travel Scams

  • Booking sites and email offers with travel deals that look too good to be true are most likely scams. Scammers try to mimic popular travel websites by recreating familiar branding, logos or company verbiage.

  • Advocate for yourself as a scam checker by looking up unfamiliar retail, travel and charity sites online by searching for their names along with terms like “scam,” “complaints” or “reviews.”

  • When booking a rental home for a vacation, always pay through the rental services' official website. Some scammers will try to convince you to pay for your trip using other means.

Related: Before Booking Those Travel Plans, How Much Does a Passport Actually Cost?

Gift Card Scams

  • Gift cards make for the perfect holiday gift. Be cautious about buying gift cards from third-party sites or cards that have already expired—you'll likely be scammed. 

  • To be safe, buy gift cards directly from the retailer and avoid shopping for discount gift cards through local swap sites.

  • Don't respond to an unsolicited email or text message offering you a gift card—your computer or mobile device could become infected with a virus or malware.

Universal Scam Warning Signs

As the saying goes, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Consumers have the power to fight back against scammers as they learn to recognize the telltale signs of scams.

For example, legitimate companies, banks and government agencies won't call, email, send text messages or direct messages on social media asking you to:

  • Wire money or buy with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash to anyone, including yourself, to prevent fraud on your account or to avoid a service disruption.

  • Request personal or financial information, including asking you for your online banking username and password or ATM pin.

  • Threaten to close or suspend your account if you don't take immediate action.

  • Invite you to answer a survey that asks you to enter personal or account information.

  • Inform you that your account has been compromised, then ask you to give or confirm your personal or account information.

If you spot these warning signs, cease all communications with the scammer and avoid sharing any information or sending them money.

Lastly, remember that financial scams can, and do, happen to anyone. Don’t feel embarrassed. Share your experience with friends and family and ask for help. If you happen to fall victim to a scam, remember to contact your financial institution as soon as possible and file a police report.

Next up, what's a good thing that's definitely not a scam? Random acts of kindness!