Stay Safe from Holiday Scams: What to Watch For This Season

The holiday season is a time for giving, celebrating, and connecting with loved ones. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when scammers ramp up their efforts. With more people shopping online, tracking packages, donating to charities, and sending money to friends and family, fraudsters take advantage of the busy season to target distracted consumers.

To help keep you and your finances safe, we’ve outlined the most common holiday scams and the red flags to look out for.

Common Holiday Scams to Watch For

1. Package Delivery & Holiday Mail Scams

With so many packages moving around during the holidays, scammers send fake delivery emails and texts claiming to be from USPS, FedEx, UPS, or other carriers. These messages often include links to phony tracking pages designed to steal personal information.

Tip: Legitimate shippers like UPS and FedEx won’t ask for personal details via email or text message.

2. Holiday Shopping Scams

Social media and online marketplaces can be flooded with “too-good-to-be-true” deals this time of year—or fake stores posing as legitimate brands.

Protect yourself by:
• Checking website security (look for https:// and a lock icon)
• Researching unfamiliar retailers
• Reading reviews carefully before clicking “Buy”

3. Fake Charities & Investment Scams

Scammers often prey on generosity during the holiday season with fake charity appeals. Others promote fraudulent “can’t-miss” investment opportunities promising high returns with little to no risk.

They may even use AI-generated ads or social media profiles to appear more convincing.

Tip: Real charities don’t pressure you to give immediately, and real investments never guarantee high returns.

4. Tech Support Scams

If someone calls claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple, or your internet provider and insists your device has a virus, proceed with caution. These scammers often try to access your computer remotely or convince you to buy unnecessary software.

Tip: Requests for remote access, urgent threats, or asking for card or account information are signs of tech support scams.

5. Imposter Scams & Deepfakes

Imposter scams can take many forms: a “friend” in trouble, a new online romance, or someone claiming to be from law enforcement. Fraudsters can even steal photos from real profiles to build fake identities, and with AI and deepfake technology, their tactics are becoming more convincing.

6. Card Skimming at ATMs & Gas Pumps

Fraudsters may install hidden skimmers, fake keypads, or tiny cameras at ATMs, ITMs, and gas stations to steal card and PIN information.

Tip: If something looks loose, damaged, or out of place, don’t use the machine.

How to Protect Yourself This Holiday Season

A few simple precautions can go a long way:

• Be cautious with links and attachments. Only click if you’re sure the sender is legitimate.
• Don’t trust the display name alone. Email names, phone numbers, and website URLs can be spoofed.
• Never share personal or account information, especially one-time passcodes.
• Watch out for urgency. Messages that demand immediate action or warn of “unauthorized login attempts” are often scams.
• Be skeptical of unbelievable deals or requests for fast decisions.
• Keep your social media private and be selective with who you connect with.
• Never share anything related to your credit union account, transactional history, or identifying information in an unprotected public forum
• Report suspicious activity right away. The sooner you let us know, the faster we can help protect your account.

We’re Here to Help

Be careful and take precautions to prevent these holiday scams from happening to you and your loved ones. If you ever receive a suspicious message, encounter something that doesn’t feel right, or believe you may have been targeted by fraud, contact us immediately at 810-715-3542. ELGA Credit Union is here to support you and help keep your information safe this holiday season.