Holiday shopping season is here, and so are the scams that come with it.
Holiday shopping scams can show up almost anywhere online: social media ads, search results, fake stores, package-delivery texts, marketplace listings, and even websites designed to look like familiar retailers.
The Federal Trade Commission recently warned that scammers are paying to place imposter ads in social media feeds, search results, and shopping platforms. Those ads may use familiar company names, logos, and product images to make a fake offer look legitimate.
That means the old advice to simply “watch for suspicious websites” is no longer enough.
A fake store can look professional.
A scam ad can appear next to legitimate advertisements.
And a bogus delivery text may arrive on the same day you really are expecting a package.
Fortunately, a few simple habits can make online shopping much safer.
Why Holiday Shopping Scams Can Be So Convincing
The holidays give scammers several advantages.
People are:
- Shopping more often
- Looking for discounts
- Ordering from unfamiliar sellers
- Expecting package-delivery notifications
- Moving quickly to finish gift lists
- Seeing more advertising than usual
Scammers take advantage of that activity.
A message saying “We couldn’t deliver your package” is much more believable when you have three orders on the way.
An advertisement showing a popular product at a deep discount is more tempting when you are actively searching for gifts.
And an unfamiliar store may seem reasonable if it has professional product photos, customer testimonials, and a polished checkout page.
None of those things prove the seller is legitimate.
1. Go Directly to the Retailer Instead of Trusting the Ad
A professional-looking advertisement is not proof that the company behind it is real.
Scammers can buy advertising space too.
The FTC has specifically warned about imposter ads appearing in:
- Social media feeds
- Search-engine results
- Online shopping platforms
If an advertisement catches your attention, consider opening a new browser tab and going directly to the retailer’s official website instead of using the link in the ad.
That extra step can help you avoid a fake site designed to imitate the real company.
This is especially useful when the advertisement claims to come from a major retailer or well-known brand.
2. Research Unfamiliar Sellers Before You Buy
Finding a product through a smaller or unfamiliar store does not automatically mean the seller is fraudulent.
But it is worth doing a little research before entering payment information.
Search for:
Company name + review
Company name + complaint
or
Company name + scam
Look beyond reviews displayed on the seller’s own website.
Also check:
- Whether the company provides real contact information
- Its return and refund policy
- Shipping terms
- How long the domain or business appears to have existed
- Whether other customers report receiving what they ordered
If something feels inconsistent or unusually vague, there is nothing wrong with buying the product somewhere else.
3. Be Skeptical of Prices That Are Far Below Everyone Else
Holiday sales can be substantial.
But there is a difference between a good sale and an offer that simply does not make sense.
If a product normally sells for $500 and one unfamiliar website suddenly offers it for $79, stop and investigate.
Compare the price with several established retailers.
Scammers often use dramatic discounts to create urgency and convince shoppers to act before they think.
The FTC specifically warns that unusually low prices on brand-name merchandise can lead to sites that:
- Send counterfeit products
- Send something completely different from the advertisement
- Send nothing at all
- Collect payment or personal information and disappear
A bargain is only a bargain if the product actually arrives.
4. Pay by Credit Card When Possible
When shopping online, payment method matters.
The FTC recommends paying by credit card when possible because credit cards provide useful protections when something goes wrong.
For example, you may be able to dispute a charge when:
- The merchandise never arrives
- You receive the wrong product
- You are charged twice
- The item is substantially different from what was promised
Be particularly cautious when an online seller insists that you pay using:
- Gift cards
- Wire transfers
- Cryptocurrency
- Payment methods that move the transaction outside the normal shopping platform
These methods can make recovering money much more difficult.
A legitimate retailer should not need you to buy gift cards and send the card numbers to complete an ordinary purchase.
5. Don’t Assume HTTPS Means the Store Is Legitimate
You’ve probably been told to look for the padlock symbol or https before entering payment information.
Encryption is important.
But it only tells you that information traveling between your browser and the website is encrypted.
It does not prove that the company operating the website is trustworthy.
Scammers can create encrypted websites too.
So while you should avoid entering sensitive information on an unencrypted website, the presence of HTTPS should be only one part of deciding whether a site is legitimate.
6. Be Careful With Package-Delivery Text Messages
Package scams become particularly effective during the holidays because so many people are waiting for deliveries.
A text may claim:
- Your package could not be delivered
- Your address needs to be updated
- A small delivery fee is required
- Your shipment is being held
- You need to click a link to reschedule delivery
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service warns about these messages, commonly called smishing.
For USPS specifically, if you did not initiate a tracking request and receive an unexpected message containing a link, do not click it.
Instead, open the official carrier website or app yourself and enter the tracking number there.
The same general principle works for other delivery companies:
Don’t use an unexpected message as your starting point.
Go directly to the carrier.
7. Keep Your Order Records and Act Quickly if Something Goes Wrong
Save:
- Order confirmations
- Receipts
- Tracking information
- Seller messages
- Screenshots of important offers when appropriate
If an order never arrives or something looks fraudulent, those records can make it easier to dispute the transaction.
If you believe you paid a scammer with a credit or debit card, contact the card issuer or financial institution promptly using the number on the back of the card or the institution’s official app or website.
If you entered a password into a fake website, change that password immediately.
If the same password is used elsewhere, change it there too.
And enable multifactor authentication where available.
Watch for Fake Stores on Social Media
Social media deserves particular attention.
The FTC reported earlier this year that shopping scams were the most commonly reported type of scam originating on social media.
Scammers can create advertisements that:
- Use stolen product images
- Copy recognizable logos
- Impersonate real brands
- Target users based on shopping interests
- Lead to convincing fake storefronts
The presence of an advertisement on Facebook, Instagram, or another major platform does not mean the advertiser has necessarily been thoroughly vetted.
Treat the advertisement as a way of discovering the product — not as proof that the seller is legitimate.
Trusted Names Can Still Be Used as Bait
We recently discussed how scammers are borrowing familiar technology brands such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to make fraudulent messages and downloads more convincing.
Fake AI Scams Are Using Trusted Names Like ChatGPT and Copilot
Holiday shopping scams rely on the same basic idea.
The scammer wants you to recognize the brand, product, delivery company, or retailer and react before verifying where the message actually came from.
The technology changes.
The underlying trick often does not.
What If You Already Clicked Something?
Clicking a suspicious link does not automatically mean your computer or phone has been compromised.
What matters is what happened afterward.
If you only opened a page and entered nothing, close it and avoid returning.
If you entered:
A password: Change it immediately.
Credit-card information: Contact the card issuer and monitor transactions.
Bank-account information: Contact your bank or credit union.
Personal information: Monitor your accounts and consider the appropriate identity-theft precautions.
If you downloaded and ran unfamiliar software, the situation deserves more attention because malicious software may have been installed.
Slow Down Before You Buy
Many holiday shopping scams depend on urgency.
Only 2 left!
Sale ends in 10 minutes!
Your package will be returned today!
Your account needs immediate attention!
Sometimes those messages are legitimate marketing.
Sometimes they are not.
Either way, taking an extra minute to verify the seller, retailer, or delivery company rarely costs you anything.
A legitimate purchase will usually survive a quick reality check.
A Simple Holiday Shopping Checklist
Before entering your payment information, ask:
- Am I on the retailer’s real website?
- Is this price believable?
- Have I checked an unfamiliar seller?
- Does the company clearly explain returns and refunds?
- Am I using a payment method with reasonable protections?
- Did I reach this site through an unexpected message or advertisement?
- Am I being pressured to act immediately?
You do not need to become a cybersecurity expert to shop more safely.
You just need to slow down when something seems unusually urgent, unusually cheap, or unexpectedly complicated.
Need Help After a Suspicious Link or Download?
If you clicked a questionable link, downloaded something you are unsure about, or think your computer may have been affected by a scam, PC Pros can help.
PC Pros provides malware assistance, Windows troubleshooting, computer security help, networking, and IT support for home users, home offices, and small businesses throughout Virginia Beach and nearby areas.
We can help determine what happened, check the computer for unwanted software, and recommend practical next steps.
Learn more about PC Pros computer and IT support services.
Sources
- FTC Consumer Advice — Tell the FTC about imposter ads online
FTC: Tell the FTC about imposter ads online - FTC Consumer Advice — How to avoid an online shopping scam this holiday season
FTC: How to avoid an online shopping scam this holiday season - FTC Consumer Advice — Online Shopping
FTC: Online Shopping - U.S. Postal Inspection Service — Smishing: Package Tracking Text Scams
USPIS: Smishing — Package Tracking Text Scams - FTC Consumer Advice — What To Do if You Were Scammed
FTC: What To Do if You Were Scammed