How can I protect myself from holiday scams, especially online?

Consumer Harassment - November 1, 2023

Don’t let a holiday scam get the best of your holiday season. Partner with a Chicago consumer harassment attorney who can help you hold anyone behind holiday phishing scams and other malicious activities responsible for their actions.

Our skilled trial lawyers are committed to holding accountable any party who engages in fraudulent behavior. If you have been the victim of a holiday scam and need legal help, please reach out to us at (800) 985-1819.

holiday scams

What are the most common holiday scams?

There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all holiday scam. Criminals are constantly looking for ways to scam people, even during the holiday season. At this point, there are many holiday scams to watch for, including:

  • Pretending to be from a charity in the hopes that you’ll be willing to donate money
  • Buying or selling fake gift cards and/or tricking you into sharing the PINs from gift cards
  • Setting up lookalike online stores that offer big discounts with the intent of getting you to share your credit card number or bank account information
  • Using phishing scams in which criminals send emails or texts in which they offer discounts or promotions from brands that you trust to encourage you to provide your financial information
  • Posting fake job listings from companies that claim they want to hire seasonal employees to share your Social Security number and other personal information

What can I do to avoid holiday scams?

Holiday scams seem unavoidable, but you have options to protect yourself. Most consumers have experienced or been targeted by at least one form of fraud that can be tied to the holidays. Rather than focus on how to avoid holiday scams, it’s important to note that there are many ways to identify these scams.

Watch for suspicious emails and texts

Don’t click on a link or download an attachment unless you know who it’s from — otherwise, you risk infecting your computer or mobile device with a virus.

Check the web address

Look at a website’s URL to make sure that you’re buying holiday gifts from legitimate online shops.

Review your credit card and bank statements

If you see a charge that you didn’t authorize on your credit card or bank statement, notify your credit card company or financial institution immediately.

Track your holiday shipments

Get the tracking numbers for online orders, so you can monitor their shipping and make sure that they arrive as planned.

Err on the side of caution

Keep the following FBI holiday scams message top of mind as you shop during the holiday season: “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

What should I do if I fall victim to a holiday scam?

If you’re the victim of a holiday scam, try to remain calm. You can notify law enforcement about the scam and get in touch with your credit card company or financial institution as needed. It’s also beneficial to report holiday scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

How can I hold someone responsible for a holiday scam?

If you have suffered harm from a scammer and want to hold this individual accountable, the team with Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates can help. We can connect you with a Chicago consumer harassment lawyer who has helped their clients achieve outstanding case results. For more information, please get in touch with us.

How can I get legal help with holiday scams?

Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates makes it easy to speak with a consumer harassment lawyer in Chicago. Our attorney can share their legal knowledge and insights of holiday scams with you. To request a free consultation, please contact us online or call (800) 985-1819.