After the uncertainty and chaos of 2020 and 2021, consumers and business owners are more than ready to relax in the joy of the holiday season.

But scammers pounce on feelings of good cheer.

Below, we’ve highlighted some of the top ways that malicious actors try to take your money during the holidays.

Protect yourself during the shopping season with our recommendations.

The Top Scams of the Season

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) just released their naughty list of the 12 Scams of Christmas. Here’s a quick overview.

1: Misleading Social Media Ads

Scrolling through your social media feeds often offers holiday gift idea ads. But be wary of companies that you’re never heard of — it’s likely a scam. Victims report “paying for items that they never receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the one advertised.”

2: Social Media Gift Exchanges

From secret Santas to wine bottles, online gifts and paying money forward to strangers, social media gift exchanges look to take your personal information and your gift. This is not like your pen pal chain letters of the 90s. Whatever address you send it to; you’re not going to get a gift in return.

3: Holiday Apps

Whether you’re using a gift tracker app or kids want to see reindeer at the North Pole, holiday apps are flooding the app stores. Make sure to read privacy policies to see what information is being collected. And if you decide to use a free app, it might contain more advertising than what you’d like your child exposed to, not to mention the possibility of malware. Read those reviews and policies.

4: Alerts About Compromised Accounts

Some very common phishing attacks either call, text or email you to tell you your Amazon, PayPal, Netflix, or bank account has been compromised. Because scammers know many people use these services, they’re going for the biggest names to cast the biggest net. When they ask you to immediately rectify the problem, they’re trying to get you to log into their fake website to share valuable personal information. Don’t click on their links, go directly to the institution’s website and log in to check your status if you are in doubt.

5: Free Gift Cards

You know those pop-up ads or emails that let you know you’ve been randomly chosen to win a free gift card? Yeah, everyone is getting those, and it’s not for being a loyal Starbucks customer. Also, they’re hoping you’ll disclose your email address, home address, or phone number to “send you your free gift card.” If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Just delete.

6: Temporary Holiday Jobs

Many companies hire seasonal workers to help with the influx of holiday shoppers. Shipping companies and delivery drivers are especially in high demand this year after the supply chain disruptions of COVID-19. Be careful, though, of “companies” that are just scams aimed at stealing money and personal information. Check them out thoroughly before applying for a job.

7: Look-Alike Websites

Many retailers send Black Friday and holiday sales emails hoping to lure customers into making purchases with great deals. But if you get an email that looks off or just suspicious, hover over the link to see where it reroutes. It could be a look-alike website created by scammers to trick you into making a dead-end purchase, downloading malware, or sharing confidential information.

8: Fake Charities

Did you know almost 40% of all charitable donations are received during the last few weeks of the year? It’s also a prime hunting ground for scammers. If you want to donate, look out for fraudulent charities and scammers online pretending to be individuals in need. Only donate directly at your charity’s official website with your credit card.

9: Fake Shipping Notifications

This is another scam that heightens during the holidays since everyone is concerned their online purchases won’t arrive in time. Watch for phishing emails with links enclosed that may allow unwanted access to your private information or download malware onto your device. Another sly trick is to confuse people into paying new shipping fees. Don’t click on their tracking links, go directly to the company order system.

10: Pop Up Holiday Virtual Events

If you used to attend holiday markets or craft fairs, many have shifted online, and bad actors are here to try and get in on the game. Fake social media events, fake event posts and even charging an admission fee when previously the event was free are all red flags. Scammers are looking for your credit card information. Check with your original source to see if there is an admission fee.

11: Top Holiday Wishlist Items

Have you ever shopped for authentic goods at steep discounted prices? No? Neither has anyone else. Low or ridiculously priced luxury goods, jewelry, designer clothing, and electronics are almost always cheap counterfeits and knockoffs. Watch out for products, especially gaming systems, sold through sketchy websites…you get what you pay for!

12: Puppy Scams

It might seem silly, but pet scams are out there. Many parents who want to surprise kids with puppies for the holidays may be in for a surprise themselves. Do not give any money, even for a “down payment,” without seeing a pet in person first.

Be cautious when you’re online and share these tips with your loved ones so they can avoid the heartache of being scammed.

For even more information, visit the National Cybersecurity Alliance website for tip sheets on Safe Online Holiday Shopping and Security Tips for Small Merchants.

We wish you a joyful holiday season, however you celebrate, be safe.

Photo by Pickawood on Unsplash