The holiday season brings joy, celebration, and increased shopping activity. Unfortunately, it also brings a surge in scams. Cybercriminals take advantage of the rush, the distractions, and the higher-than-normal financial activity to target both consumers and small businesses.

Whether you're buying gifts for family or closing out year-end business transactions, staying alert can save you from financial loss, identity theft, and major disruptions.

Below is an easy-to-read guide to help you recognize the most common holiday scams and protect yourself and your business from becoming a target.

1. Fake Online Stores & Holiday “Deals” That Are Too Good to Be True

Scammers create fake websites and social media pages that look like legitimate stores, but their deals seem unrealistically cheap.

Signs of a fake online store:

• No customer reviews or only generic, copy-and-paste reviews
• Prices far below market rate
• Website has spelling errors, low-quality images, or broken links
• No physical address, phone number, or customer service
• Only accepts unusual payment methods (Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, crypto)

How to protect yourself:

• Shop only from retailers you know and trust
• Verify URLs because you may be on a spoofed site
• Search the company name + “scam” before purchasing
  
  

Businesses ordering supplies or holiday inventory can also fall victim, so it’s important to always confirm the vendor through official channels.

2. Package Delivery Scams

With millions of packages shipped during the holidays, scammers send fake notifications pretending to be UPS, USPS, FedEx, or Amazon.

How the scam works:

• You receive a text/email saying your package is delayed
• It includes a link asking you to “confirm your address” or “pay a small fee”
• Clicking the link installs malware or steals your personal info

How to stay safe:

• Never click delivery links from unexpected messages
• Check package status directly on the official website
• Keep a list of orders so you know what’s coming, and what’s not

3. Gift Card & Charity Scams

Cybercriminals love gift cards because they’re untraceable.

Gift card scam examples:

• Fake emails pretending to be your boss asking you to buy gift cards
• Phone calls demanding payment for bills or debts using gift cards
• Online sellers asking for gift card codes as a form of payment

Charity scams increase as well:

Fraudsters set up fake charities with emotional stories to collect holiday donations.

How to protect yourself:

• Never pay ANY bill or debt with a gift card because no legitimate company uses them
• Donate only through well-known organizations
• Verify charities on org or IRS.gov

4. Holiday Phishing Emails & Texts

These are some of the most dangerous scams because they look real.

Common holiday phishing themes:

• “Your order has been canceled. Click to resolve.”
• “Holiday bonus inside!”
• “Unusual activity detected on your account”
• Fake digital greeting cards that carry malware

For small businesses, scammers often target:

• Payroll departments
• Accounting teams
• Employees with access to bank accounts
• Business owners using email impersonation (“CEO fraud”)

What to watch for:

• Email sender address slightly misspelled
• Unexpected attachments
• High-pressure language (“act now!”)
• Messages requesting personal or financial info
  
  

5. Social Media Scams & Marketplace Fraud

Social platforms are full of online holiday shopping scams, especially on Facebook Marketplace, Instagram Shops, and TikTok ads.

Warning signs:

• Sellers with brand-new accounts
• No verifiable customer history
• Requests to move the conversation to private messaging
• Asking for payment before delivery or using cash transfer apps

Business owners should be especially cautious when buying:

• Office equipment
• Holiday décor for storefronts
• Discounted digital tools or software “specials”

6. Small Business Invoice & Vendor Fraud

Scammers often pretend to be legitimate suppliers or service providers during the busy holiday season.

How the scam works:

• You receive an invoice that looks real
• It may appear to be from a known supplier, but the bank details are changed
• Busy employees assume it’s valid and pay it

How to avoid it:

• Require confirmation from a second team member before paying invoices
• Verify any changed payment instructions by phone, not email
• Use strong internal controls, especially during the holiday rush

7. Fake Job Offers & Seasonal Employment Scams

Many businesses hire seasonal workers, and scammers know it.

Red flags:

• Job postings offering unusually high pay for easy work
• Requests for personal information early in the hiring process
• “Employer” asking you to pay for training or equipment

Consumers should also be aware that fake work-from-home jobs spike during the holidays.

How to Protect Yourself & Your Business This Holiday Season

You can reduce risk dramatically by following a few core principles:

● Be skeptical of unsolicited offers
● Verify before you click
● Keep software and devices updated
● Enable multi-factor authentication on accounts
● Monitor bank and credit card activity regularly
● Remember: If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.

Remember: If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.

Enjoy the Holidays!

The holidays should be a time for celebration, and not financial stress. By staying alert and recognizing common scam tactics, you can protect your business, your identity, and your hard-earned money.

American Bank is committed to helping our community stay safe from fraud.
If you ever suspect suspicious activity on your account, contact us immediately. We're here to help.