The holiday season is, in many ways, the busiest season of the year. From the millions of shoppers purchasing gifts in stores and online, to the rush of travelers flooding airports, train stations, and highways, to the jump in charitable donations and volunteerism, nearly everyone has something on their to-do list come December.   
Unfortunately, the season of giving is also often the season of scamming. The increase in shopping, traveling, and giving all present opportunities for criminals. 
Here are some of the most common holidays season scams and how to avoid them: 

Online marketplace scams 

Getting off the beaten path and doing some of your holiday shopping outside of major stores is a great way to find unique items, support small businesses and artists, and maybe even find some bargains. Websites like Etsy, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace offer some enticing offers, but they warrant an extra amount of caution. 
First and foremost, treat any steep discount as suspicious. This is particularly important with higher-end products like electronics, which could be nonfunctional, or designer brands, which could be fake. It’s best not to make these purchases without inspecting the items in person first. 
Some sellers might try a bait-and-switch approach, where they draw you in with one product, then tell you that they already sold it but have something similar. Ultimately, it’s your call whether the alternative they offer is good enough, but this might indicate that the seller isn’t very trustworthy. 
Some scammers may even use these marketplace networks as a point of contact to get into your other accounts or steal your identity. Don’t give out any personal information and never send a seller a code texted to your phone.  

Shipping notification scams 

Expecting some packages to be delivered to your home, office, or at a nearby locker drop-off location in the next few days? You and everyone else! 
Scammers know this and may use it to gain access to your devices. They know that online shopping companies and package delivery companies use text message and email alerts to keep you updated on the status of your packages, so they’ll send out fake updates posing as a legitimate company like Amazon or FedEx to try to trick you into opening malicious links. By clicking on these links, you could be granting them access to your personal device.  
Always read these types of texts carefully. Scam texts often attempt to create a sense of urgency, saying that, for example, a package can’t be delivered due to incomplete address information and will be returned if you don’t click the link to update the info today. 
Many legitimate companies will send their texts from 10-digit toll-free numbers that begin with 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, or 833 in place of the area code. They also often use SMS short codes, which are automated text messages that will appear to come from a number that is only 5 or 6 digits long. 
If you receive a text message from a phone number that you do not recognize, your best course of action is to not click on any links and instead search the internet for the phone number it came from.  

QR code scams 

Scanning a QR code with your phone camera is essentially the same as clicking a link. If you’re sure you trust the source and know where it will take you, it’s probably not a problem. 
However, some scammers may use QR codes to access your device. Use caution when scanning a QR code on flyers or signs promoting holiday bargains, especially if they seem too good to be true. Check with staff members to confirm that any sale is legitimate and that a code is safe to scan.  

Holiday charity scams 

The holiday season is a time of year when many people like to give back. Some volunteer at soup kitchens or participate in programs that provide holiday meals or gifts for those less fortunate. So, of course, some bad actors try to take advantage of this spirit of generosity. They may pose as representatives of real or fictional charities and solicit donations through phishing emails or even approach you on the street.  
To ensure that your contributions actually make it to the people you’re hoping to help, stick to registered charities and use their official websites. Even if an unsolicited email spurs your donation, avoid clicking any links and instead visit the website the old-fashioned way. You can also check the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance page, Give.org , or the Tax-Exempt Organization Search on IRS.gov to confirm the legitimacy of an organization before you give. 

AI-powered scams 

AI has been making big waves in the technology industry recently. Unfortunately, it’s also making things easier for scammers. One of the clearest uses of AI in scams is the growth of personalized phishing attacks, which use emails or text messages that seem legitimate to get unsuspecting marks to click on malicious links. 
There are two primary types of phishing attacks: 

• The first, often called “spray and pray,” is all about volume. Scammers send out a huge number of generic emails, knowing that even if they only have a 1% success rate, they’ll still be able to profit.  
• The other is called “spear-phishing,” which is much more targeted. These attacks are personalized to specific individuals, making them more effective but also more time-consuming and expensive to create. Unfortunately, AI tools are changing that, making it faster, easier, and cheaper to create and send convincing messages. 

Another way scammers are using advanced AI tools is to imitate people’s voices. They can use these recreated voices to place phone calls and trick people into sending them money or giving up sensitive information. It’s important to be aware of the signs that a phone call may be suspicious, such as asking for unusual forms of payment, creating a sense of urgency, or the threat of consequences if you don’t pay up.  
 
It’s more important than ever to keep your guard up this holiday season. If you suspect you’ve been targeted by a scam, contact your bank or credit card carrier, and be sure to report what happened to the government to help them protect others.