Black Friday is still weeks away, but the holiday shopping season is already picking up. Stores are promoting early deals, our inboxes are filling with sales emails, and chances are you’re already thinking about gifts for family and friends. Scammers are getting an early start, too.
Holiday shopping scams are designed to blend in with legitimate promotions and messages. A tempting discount could lead to a fake online store. A delivery alert might ask you to confirm your address or pay a small fee. And an email about a problem with your order could be an attempt to steal your payment information.
The tricky part is that these messages often arrive when you’re already looking for deals or expecting packages. Before you click or enter your credit card information, here are seven holiday shopping scams to watch for and simple ways to protect yourself.
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During the holidays, it is normal to receive messages from unfamiliar stores. You may also be expecting several deliveries at once. Meanwhile, sales and shipping deadlines create pressure to act quickly. Scammers take advantage of those distractions. A fake message becomes more convincing when it matches something you are already expecting. That’s why one of the best ways to avoid holiday shopping scams is to verify unexpected messages through a company’s official website or app rather than responding directly.
You see a social media ad for a name-brand coat, popular gadget or designer handbag at 80% off. The photos look professional, and a countdown clock warns that the deal is about to expire. Big discounts happen during the holidays. However, unusually low prices on popular merchandise can signal a scam. Some fake stores collect your payment and send nothing. Others deliver cheap counterfeits or products that look nothing like the advertisement.
The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers frequently use social media advertisements featuring popular products at unusually low prices.
Fake shopping websites can look remarkably convincing. Scammers copy brand logos, product photography and website layouts to make their stores appear legitimate. Sometimes, the biggest clue is hiding in the website address. A fake store might add words such as “outlet” or “sale” to a familiar brand name. Others use subtle misspellings or unfamiliar web addresses.
One important detail: A padlock icon or HTTPS connection does not guarantee that a shopping website is legitimate. It means the connection is encrypted. Scammers can use encrypted websites, too. When in doubt, type the retailer’s official address into your browser or open its trusted app.
“Your package could not be delivered. Please confirm your address.” Messages like this appear through text messages and emails, often claiming to come from the U.S. Postal Service, UPS or FedEx. Because you may have packages on the way, the message can seem believable. Scammers frequently direct you to a fake tracking page. There, they may ask you to enter your address, credit card number or other personal information. Some demand a small redelivery fee.
The Postal Service confirms that it does not charge a fee for redelivery. If a text claims you must pay USPS to receive your package again, treat it as a warning sign.
Another common scam involves an email claiming that your payment failed, your shopping account has been locked or a purchase needs immediate confirmation. Some messages go further. They claim someone made an expensive purchase using your account and provide a phone number to call if you want to cancel it. That number may connect you directly to a scammer. Once you call, the person may request your credit card information, ask for a one-time verification code or pressure you into installing remote-access software.
If you cannot verify the message through your account, contact the company’s customer service department using contact information from its official website.
Gift cards make convenient holiday presents. Unfortunately, scammers also like them because the money can be difficult to recover once the card numbers and PINs are shared. A scammer may pretend to be a seller, employer or family member who urgently needs financial help. Some even claim to represent government agencies or utility companies.
A legitimate company might sell gift cards or accept its own gift cards for purchases. However, demands to buy gift cards and send someone the card numbers or PINs are strong signs of fraud.
The holidays are a popular time for charitable giving. Scammers know that emotional appeals can encourage people to donate quickly. Fake charities may use names that resemble familiar organizations. Others take advantage of natural disasters or heartbreaking stories to solicit donations. Some scammers impersonate legitimate charities and direct donations to fraudulent payment pages.
You can also consult the FTC’s charity guidance before donating.
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Online marketplaces and local resale groups can be useful places to find holiday bargains. However, they also attract scammers posing as legitimate sellers. A seller might advertise a popular item at an unusually low price, then demand payment before you can inspect it. Others try to move conversations away from the marketplace to avoid its protections. Fake payment confirmations and requests for additional shipping fees are other warning signs.
Remember that not every marketplace provides buyer protection. Check its policies rather than assuming it will refund a fraudulent purchase.
Avoiding holiday shopping scams starts with a few simple habits. These precautions can help protect your finances and personal information.
These habits help reduce your risk even when an advertisement or shopping website looks legitimate.
Even careful shoppers can encounter convincing scams. The important thing is to respond based on what actually happened.
Simply opening a webpage does not automatically mean your accounts have been compromised.
Acting quickly can improve your chances of limiting the damage.
Good habits are your first line of defense, but nobody spots every scam every time, especially during the busy holiday season. That’s where reliable security software can provide an extra layer of protection. I recommend using strong antivirus software that helps detect suspicious websites, phishing attempts and malicious links before they put your personal information at risk.
Look for software that offers real-time protection against viruses, malware, spyware and ransomware. Some security solutions also include scam detection tools that can help identify fraudulent text messages, fake shopping websites and suspicious links. These features are particularly useful when scammers impersonate familiar retailers or delivery companies.
A built-in password manager is another valuable feature. It can generate and securely store strong, unique passwords for your shopping accounts. That helps reduce the risk of someone accessing multiple accounts if one password is compromised.
AI-powered scams are also becoming more convincing. Fake celebrity endorsements, manipulated videos and fraudulent holiday giveaways can make questionable offers appear legitimate. Some security products now include AI-powered scam detection and deepfake detection tools to help identify certain types of manipulated content. However, these capabilities vary by product, device and platform.
While security software cannot stop every scam, combining it with secure payment methods, account alerts and careful shopping habits can help protect your money and personal information throughout the holiday season.
Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.
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I love finding a great holiday deal as much as anyone. But I’ve learned that the best way to avoid getting scammed is to be a little skeptical when something looks unusually attractive or demands an immediate response. Scammers are getting better at copying familiar stores and creating convincing messages. They’re also using AI to make fraudulent offers look more believable. That’s why I recommend checking purchases directly through retailers you trust and using security tools that can help flag suspicious activity. A few extra seconds of checking could save you a lot of trouble. The holidays should be about enjoying time with the people you care about, not cleaning up after a scam.
Have you ever received a fake delivery alert or spotted an online shopping deal that turned out to be a scam? What tipped you off? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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