Consumers spend a lot of money during the holiday season and scammers are always looking for opportunities to take advantage of shoppers.

During the busy holiday season people often let their guard down which makes them more vulnerable to scammers.

The Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost more than $10 billion to fraud in 2023, marking the first time that fraud losses have reached that benchmark. This marks a 14% increase over reported losses in 2022.

Here are some common holiday related scams to watch out for.

Gift Card & Shipping Scams

Scammers tamper with gift cards while they are on display at the store, they can record the gift card number and when the card is activated steal the funds. Criminals can also hack electronic gift cards and steal the money without ever possessing the card.

When purchasing gift cards from a store, look for any signs of tampering and get a receipt so that if there is an issue with the card you can attempt to get a refund. If purchasing online only buy from well known, reputable retailers.

Shipping scams come in many varieties, which can include false notifications about problems with an order or shipment. If you are concerned about a shipment don’t respond to email or text messages, instead visit the retailer’s website to check on your order and track deliveries through the delivery company’s official website.

Porch pirates steal packages once they have been delivered. If you are expecting a delivery, try to be home to receive it, or arrange for a neighbor or friend to hold the package for you. If you receive a lot of deliveries consider purchasing a secure, antitheft package locker.

Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery, this service sends a daily email with a preview of your incoming mail and packages and allows you to control your deliveries.

Bogus Deals on Hard-to-Find Items

Every holiday season there are “must have” toys and other items and they can be hard to find. Scammers target people looking for these hard-to-find items and people desperate to get them may overlook red flag warning signs.

Watch out for deals that seem too good to be true with the promise of an extremely low price.

Before purchasing anything online, check to be sure the site is legitimate it should be secure with a padlock symbol and the address should start with “https” search for them at the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Google. Check Reddit to see if other users have commented on the site.

Seasonal Job Scams

Many retailers and others offer seasonal employment but watch out for scammers posting fake jobs to trick you into providing personal information. If you are looking for a seasonal job, be cautious, scammers often offer a position without an interview. They may ask for personal information such as your Social Security number or banking information. Never provide personal or financial information to secure a job.

Social Media Scams

During the holidays, scammers use social media to trick people by offering gift cards, prizes or other incentives for taking part in surveys or promotions. If you participate your personal and financial information may be stolen. Scammers also post fake online stores designed to steal money and personal information. Social media is a hotbed for scammers, be cautious of anything you see there.

Fake Account Problem Notifications

These happen all year but there is typically an uptick during the holiday season. Most of them come from someone impersonating a bank or credit card company notifying you that there has been fraudulent activity associated with your account. They attempt to get you to send money or personal information to secure your account.

Never respond to text messages, phone calls or email messages warning you of a problem with your account. If you are concerned call your financial institution directly.

Charity Scams

There is always an increase in charity scams during the holidays, fraudulent charities designed to steal your money. Don’t fall for them. If you want to donate to a charity, contact them directly not through a link, text message, phone call or social media.