Popular Holiday Scams (and How to Avoid Them)

Ah, the holidays … a time for sharing, celebrating, and gift-giving (sometimes spending more than you’d planned).

It’s also when scammers looking for personal information step up their game. As much as we look forward to the holidays, scammers enjoy this time of year as well. After all, it’s natural to let your security slip a little when you’re busy and spending a lot. To make sure no one but you is tapping your bank account, raise your guard and keep an eye out for these popular scams.

Phony package delivery notices. Scammers know you’ll receive unexpected packages this season and will send realistic-looking delivery failure notifications so you’ll follow up and reveal personal info. Before you hand over information on the internet, head to your local post office or call the delivery service to verify the notification.

Public “Lie”-Fi (Wi-Fi). OK, so maybe not our best pun, but this threat is real. Scammers will target hotel visitors, coffee shop patrons, and other users of public Wi-Fi with pop-ups that requests that they install a foreign program (i.e., data-stealing malware) before connecting to a network. Ask yourself if using public Wi-Fi is worth the risk (using public Wi-Fi to access bank accounts or other sensitive info is never a good idea). If you do choose to use public Wi-Fi, remember that you shouldn’t have to install anything.

E-card danger. Almost everyone with an email address will receive these little Flash programs spreading holiday cheer. Unfortunately, scammers have designed some that can install data-leaching programs on your computer and do untold damage. Don’t click links in emails unless you know the sender. Even then, if something looks out of the ordinary, it could be a sign that the sender’s identity has been compromised (might be a good idea to let them know).

Fake charities. These crop up every time there’s a major disaster, but they also appear around the holidays. Leaflets and phone calls from organizations with familiar-sounding names will ask you to open your wallets for a good cause. To be safe, don’t give to any charity with whom you didn’t start the contact.

Must-have gift scams. The “it” gift. You’ll know it by the high demand, low supply, and inflated eBay prices. Almost on cue, websites will pop up offering the rare widget at an unbelievably low price. Don’t fall for this “deal”—the advertiser likely doesn’t have the product and is using the offer to harvest personal information or payment through PayPal.

Holiday vacation scams. If it’s cold and miserable where you are, it’s always tempting to get away to someplace tropical. But be wary of too-good-to-be-true offers. Scammers have long been setting up phony travel sites to gather personal information. Make sure to book through reputable websites.

Mobile malice. If you’re facing a five-hour flight and a three-hour layover, a distracting mobile game can help pass the time. But be careful not to download the wrong one. Mobile games can steal passwords and other data from your device. Always do a quick search to check the validity of the app you’re downloading and read the permissions carefully. A fun game should never ask for permission to send texts or information to third parties.

Old-school pickpocketing. Crowded malls and shopping centers are havens for pickpockets. Why would you notice one more jostle in a day full of them? To combat this threat, it’s best to wear purses across the body and wallets in front pockets or inside a closed jacket. Consider leaving the house with the bare minimum, like your ID and debit or credit card (the latter which offer fraud protection and security features not available with cash).

What you can do

Besides being aware of the scams above, there are additional steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft.

Check your list twice. When the holiday season is over, double-check all of your credit cards and account statements. In fact, make that three times.