8 Holiday Scams to Watch for This Season
The holidays are here. With them come traditions, celebrations, and unfortunately, scams. Each year, scammers take advantage of busy shoppers and small businesses, and 2025 is no exception. With AI tools becoming more accessible, many holiday scams are now more convincing than ever.
Nearly 46% of Americans say they’ve already encountered an AI-powered scam while shopping. And with millions of people hunting for deals during the holiday, it’s critical you know what to watch out for.
Before we get into specific holiday scams, there’s one theme you’ll see again and again…
The Scammer Hallmark: Urgency
Almost every holiday scam uses pressure. From limited-time deals to threats about account suspensions, scammers use time as a way to push shoppers into making mistakes.
If something is trying to rush you into clicking or paying, stop and ask:
“Is this a holiday scam?”
That alone can be enough to save you.
Now, onto the list.
1. AI-Powered Phishing Attacks
Last year, Christmas-related phishing emails jumped 314%. And now phishing attacks tied to AI have surged by 1,265%. Scammers use AI to write perfect emails and texts impersonating Amazon, UPS, retailers, banks, or even coworkers. One wrong click and you may accidentally install malware, or end up on a site aimed at stealing your sensitive information or money.
How to stay safe:
Luckily, the same, reliable phishing principles apply to this holiday scam:
- Check the sender’s address: Any typos or strange addresses that don’t match the company are a major red flag that it’s a holiday scam.
- Don’t trust pressure tactics: As we mentioned, urgency is a big indicator of a potential holiday scam.
- Too good to be true? It probably is: Surprise deals, “exclusive” offers, sudden refunds, or unexpected giveaways should be treated with caution.
- Avoid attachments: Don’t click or download anything unless you’re absolutely sure it’s legitimate.
2. Gift card scams
Gift card scams are still everywhere. In fact, 1 in 4 people who lost money to scams report that a gift card was involved. Scammers may sell already-used cards, steal card numbers in stores, tamper with packaging, and more.
Bottom line: treat gift cards with caution this holiday season.
How to stay safe:
- Check for tampering: An opened package might mean a hacker scanned the code.
- Buy direct: Purchase gift cards directly from retailers.
- Keep your receipt: If something goes wrong, you can return or dispute the purchase.
- Have your cashier activate your card: This will confirm if your card has previously been scanned.
For more on gift card scams, check out the Retail Gift Card Association.
3. Delivery Scam
You get a text:
“Your delivery has been delayed. Click here to verify your address, or your Amazon package will be returned.”
The moment you click the link provided, you’ve already fallen for this holiday scam. These fake delivery alerts are especially common during the holidays, when people are juggling multiple packages and tracking numbers. Before you realize it, you’ve handed over your personal information for a package that never existed.
How to stay safe:
- Confirm your order: Check your official shipping apps (Amazon, UPS, USPS, FedEx).
- Don’t click links: Scammers use links to direct victims to malicious websites or install malware.
- Report holiday scam texts: Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM).
4. Fake Online Storefronts
Not every online store is real. You might think you’ve found a once-in-a-lifetime deal on Amazon, only to realize later that the site was actually Amazin.com – a convincing fake designed to steal your money.
And with AI tools, scammers can now build realistic websites faster than ever. In October alone, fake storefronts increased by 250%.
How to stay safe:
- Don’t click random links: Use Google to avoid clicking malicious links.
- Check the URL: If you do click a link, hover over the link to confirm the URL is legitimate.
- Watch for odd layouts: Spelling errors, blurry photos, and strange page layouts are all signs of a fake storefront
5. Brushing Scams
A “brushing scam” is when you receive a product you never ordered, and it’s a classic holiday scam. It might seem harmless, but “free” isn’t truly free. It means someone has your personal information and is using it without your consent, often to post fake reviews or, in some cases, begin steps toward identity fraud.
How to stay safe:
- Report unexpected packages: Let Amazon or the retailer know. Reporting helps shut down fraudulent seller accounts.
- Check your credit and bank accounts: If anything looks suspicious, your information may have been compromised. Consider freezing your credit for extra protection.
6. Holiday Job Scams
The offer usually starts with a text or DM:
“Easy money! Work from home! Flexible hours!”
Holiday scams use AI to blast out thousands of fake job postings, hoping to take advantage of people looking to earn a little extra during the season. But here’s the catch: you have to pay for your training, supplies, or some other bogus cost.
Job scams have tripled from 2020 to 2024, leading to over $501 million in reported losses.
How to stay safe:
- Stay skeptical: Legitimate employers don’t typically recruit through random texts or social media DMs.
- Don’t pay upfront: A real job will never ask you to cover training, software, or equipment out of pocket.
- Trust your instincts: If the pay seems unrealistically high or the job description feels vague, it’s probably a holiday scam
7. AI Impersonation Scams
The holidays are a time to reconnect with friends, family, and loved ones. Scammers have always been trying to cash in on that social connection. Now, thanks to AI-generated voices, images, and even deepfake videos, they can mimic someone you know with surprising accuracy. In one study, only 0.1% of participants correctly identified all the deepfakes they were shown.
Scammers use these tactics to request money, “urgent help,” or sensitive information by pretending to be someone you trust.
How to stay safe:
- Verify through another channel: If someone you know asks for money – even if their voice or photo looks real – pause and confirm by calling or messaging them separately.
- Watch for red flags: Odd speech patterns, awkward pauses, strange phrasing, or behavior that feels “off” may indicate an AI-generated message.
- Consider the conversation: A scammer will try to shift the discussion toward financial problems, urgent requests, and emotional pressure.
8. Charity scams
With 30% of annual donations occurring in December, scammers know the holidays are a prime time to exploit people’s generosity. You may get a request from an organization with an appealing mission – feeding the hungry, supporting medical causes, or protecting the environment.
You send your money, feel happy, but only realize later that your donation went straight into a scammer’s pocket. And this happens a lot, with more than a third of people receiving charity donation requests.
How to stay safe:
- Double-check the charity: Use charity verification websites like Give.org, Charitywatch.org, or Charitynavigator.org to confirm its legitimacy.
- Check the name: Fake charities may mimic legitimate ones, but with slight spelling changes.
- Avoid sharing unnecessary personal details: Scammers can steal personal information just as easily as money.
Stay Safe This Holiday Season
There’s seemingly an endless list of holiday scams each year – some new, some familiar. But the core principle remains the same: stay skeptical.
If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is. If someone is asking for money or something feels off, pause and investigate. Remember that scammers will try to pressure you into fast action – don’t let them. Even taking just a few seconds to think through a deal or a message can save you from falling victim to a holiday scam.
From all of us at The 20 MSP, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season. If you have any questions or concerns about potential scams, don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re here to help.
If you found this guide helpful, share it with friends, family, and coworkers. Awareness is the best way to stay safe, especially when everyone’s hunting for holiday deals.
Happy holidays!
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About The 20 MSP
As a leading provider of managed IT services, The 20 MSP serves thousands of businesses nationwide, including single and multi-location organizations, delivering white-glove service, secure and streamlined IT infrastructure, and 24/7/365 support. We believe in building lasting relationships with clients founded on trust, communication, and the delivery of high-value services for a fair and predictable price. Our clients’ success is our success, and we are committed to helping each and every organization we serve leverage technology to secure a competitive advantage and achieve new growth.
