Keep fraud from ruining your holiday shopping fun.

It’s go time! The holidays are here, and you’ve got loved ones to shop for. Unfortunately, fraudsters are also gearing up to take advantage of the busy shopping season. But you can safeguard your personal information and finances by staying alert to common seasonal scams and following these tips while shopping online, in-store or on your phone.

Common holiday scams

Missed delivery scams

Package deliveries are a normal part of the holiday season. However, this convenience comes with its own set of risks. Scammers pose as well-known delivery companies and send fake emails or texts falsely claiming you missed a package delivery. They hope you’ll click a link or dial a phone number to pay a re-delivery fee to receive the nonexistent package.

Brushing scams

A brushing scam opens in a new window happens when you receive a package delivery for items you never ordered. Package contents can range from small products, like keychains, to larger items, like kitchen appliances. Often, there’s no return address, or the package looks like it came from a well-known store.

These scammers are usually third-party sellers who use unsolicited package delivery as part of a scheme to trick online marketplaces. By sending out these fake orders, they can leave phony positive reviews or inflate their sales numbers which can help them rank higher and get seen by more potential online customers.

Another variation of this scam includes a QR code opens in a new window to find out who sent the package. But scanning the code downloads malware that can read your device and steal financial data.

Bogus charity scams

Cybercriminals aim to exploit your generosity through fraudulent charity schemes. These scams can be highly sophisticated, mimicking legitimate charitable organizations to deceive well-meaning donors. The money you thought you were sending to help those in need actually ends up in the scammer’s wallet.

Fake seasonal jobs

Employment scams target individuals looking for temporary or part-time holiday work. Bad actors create fake job ads for real companies. They may send you to look-alike websites to complete a phony job application or even sit through a bogus telephone interview to make the ruse appear more believable. Scammers hope you’ll reveal your Social Security number or financial account details so they can steal your identity or drain your bank account, or deposit a bad check into your account and request you to send the proceeds to another party.

Phony discounts

Fraudsters set up fake online stores that offer irresistible Black Friday deals on popular items, such as electronics, jewelry and clothing. These scams target shoppers looking for luxury or hard-to-find items at heavily reduced prices. Crooks steal the payment information to make purchases of their own and never deliver the discounted goods.

Phishing or Smishing

During the busy holiday season, fraudsters dupe customers into clicking links or sharing sensitive information and one-time passcodes. Commerce Bank will never request that you share your personal information, banking information, password or passcode. Instead of clicking on the link provided in the email or text message, go to the purported sender’s main website and log into your account.

Holiday fraud-fighting tips

Put coal in the stockings of fraudsters this season when you take steps to safeguard your personal data.

• Protect devices. Regularly check your electronic devices for security updates. Install them ASAP to freeze out cyberthieves.
• Shop securely. Avoid using public Wi-Fi. Never make purchases or enter sensitive information while using a public connection.
• Delete messages. Do not respond to unsolicited emails or text messages. Delete the message and block the sender from sending future messages.
• Limit sharing. Always verify the legitimacy of the source before sharing any information.
• Be proactive. Set up account activity alerts with your bank, enroll in identity theft services for support after an identity theft event, and report anything suspicious immediately.

Holiday Scam FAQ

Q: What should I do if I receive a suspicious email or text about a delivery?

A: If you receive such communications, do not click on any links or call the phone number listed in the message. Instead, contact the delivery service directly, using their official website or customer service number to verify the message's authenticity.

Q: What should I do if I receive a brushing scam package?

A: If an unsolicited package arrives on your doorstep, you are under no obligation opens in a new window to make any attempt to return the delivery. You can either keep or discard the package.

Never scan an unidentified QR code. If a company name is associated with a code included in the package, always confirm its legitimacy before scanning by contacting the company through official channels.

Q: How can I verify the legitimacy of a charity before donating?

A: Before donating, research the charity using reliable sources like the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance opens in a new window or Charity Navigator to ensure it is legitimate and not a scam.

Q: How can I know if a seasonal job listing is fake?

A: Be highly suspicious of potential employers or recruiters that require you to pay for anything up front! In this common scenario, the “employer” sends you a check to deposit, instructs you to keep a portion, and asks you to return the remaining funds. These checks are usually fraudulent, leaving you liable for the amount deposited. Verify the authenticity of the job by contacting the employer’s human resources department through official channels.

Q: How can I tell if a scammer is pretending to be a well-known retailer advertising holiday deals?

A: First, ensure the domain name matches the legitimate company. Be cautious of misspellings, hyphens, or variations. Hover over links before clicking, to see their true destination. Next, check for poor grammar, spelling errors, low-quality design, and urgent or fear-inducing language. Finally, search “[retailer name] scam website” to learn other ways scammers are targeting a specific retail website.

Q: Where can I report suspected holiday scam activity?

A: It depends on how you first encountered the scam. For example, if a fraudster approaches you on a social media platform, report the incident by filing a complaint with the platform. You can also report the incident to other entities that investigate scam activities:
Better Business Bureau opens in a new window
United States Postal Service opens in a new window
Federal Trade Commission opens in a new window