Holiday Scams Are Getting Smarter: How to Shop Safely This Season

The holidays should be about finding the right gift, spending time with the people you care about, and enjoying the season. Unfortunately, scammers know this is also a time when inboxes are full, packages are on the way, and shoppers are moving quickly. The AARP survey of 1,849 U.S. consumers age 18 and older, reported that in 2025, 89 percent of U.S. consumers had experienced or been targeted by at least one form of the fraud that is rampant during the holidays, including requests from (often fake) charities, online shopping scams and fraudulent texts about delivery problems. As holiday spending ramps up, be on the lookout for new scams that threaten to make the season a bit less jolly.

Scams are Changing

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making it easier for scammers to create convincing messages, realistic images, fake websites, and impersonation your loved ones. A misspelled word, poorly designed email, or phone call isn’t always going to give a scam away anymore. It is more important that ever to take a moment to slow down, look closely, and verify before you click, pay, or share personal information.

Watch for AI-Powered Scams

AI is helping scammers make their attempts look more polished and believable. A fraudulent email can be well written. A fake shopping site can look professional. An impersonated phone call or text can appear to come from a real company or a person you recognize. Instead of relying on whether something looks legitimate, pay attention to what you’re being asked to do.

Be cautious when a message:

1. Creates an unexpected sense of urgency.
2. Asks you to click a link to resolve a problem.
3. Requests passwords, account information, verification codes, or other sensitive information
4. Pushes you toward an unusual or unexpected form of payment.
5. Comes from a company or person you weren’t expecting to hear from.

When something feels off, pause and verify the request another way. A couple ways to do this:

1. Go directly to the source: Open your browser independently, type the official website address yourself, or log into your official app.
2. Call official numbers: If a message claims to be from your bank, utility company, or government agency, call the official phone number printed on the back of your credit card, a past statement, or their verified public website. Never call the number the message supplies.
3. Use online checkers: You can paste suspicious text, URLs, or sender details into a free verification tool like the Free Scam & Spam Detector.

Phishing Is Getting Harder to Spot

Holiday shopping creates plenty of opportunities for phishing. A message about a delayed package, failed payment, suspicious purchase, or limited-time sale can catch your attention because it feels timely. If you receive an unexpected email or text about an order or account, avoid using the link in the message. Instead, navigate to the retailer, delivery service, or financial institution through a website or app you already trust and check your account there.

Be Skeptical of Deals That Seem Too Good to Be True
A great holiday deal can make it tempting to act quickly. Scammers count on that. Fake stores and fraudulent social media ads can imitate legitimate retailers or advertise sought-after products at unusually low prices. Last year’s guidance recommended watching for unfamiliar or misspelled URLs, unclear return policies, missing contact information, and requests for gift card or cryptocurrency payments.

Before making a purchase from an unfamiliar seller:

• Go directly to the retailer’s official website rather than relying on a social media ad or unsolicited link.
• Look closely at the website address.
• Research unfamiliar businesses before providing payment information.
• Be cautious when a seller pressures you to act immediately or pay in an unusual way.

A few extra minutes of research can help you avoid a deal that isn’t really a deal.

Don’t Let Urgency Make the Decision for You

Whether it’s a “last chance” sale, a package that supposedly can’t be delivered, or an alert claiming there’s a problem with your account, urgency is often what turns a suspicious message into a successful scam. Before you act, take a breath. Stop. Check. Verify. Then ask yourself: Was I expecting this message? If not, treat it with additional caution and take a moment to consider:

• Is this asking me to click, pay, or provide information right now? Don’t let a deadline in a message make the decision for you.
• Can I verify this another way? Go to a website you know, use a trusted app, or contact the organization using contact information you’ve independently verified.

What to Do If Something Doesn’t Feel Right

Scammers are continually finding new ways to make fraudulent messages and offers more believable, and AI is adding another layer of sophistication. Falling for a convincing scam doesn’t mean you weren’t paying attention. What matters is what you do next. If you receive something suspicious involving your Choice Bank account, don’t rely on the contact information or links contained in the message. Use a trusted method to reach us directly.

At Choice Bank, protecting your financial well-being is part of putting#PeopleFirst. If something doesn’t seem right, we’re here to help you take the next step!