November 24, 2025

Don’t Let Scammers Steal Your Holiday Cheer: How to Shop and Give Safely This Season

With the holidays fast approaching, scammers are ramping up their efforts to target shoppers and those looking to give back. Thanks to tools like generative AI and deepfake technology, their phishing emails, fake investment pitches, and bogus charity appeals are more convincing than ever. These criminals often pretend to be trusted retailers or charities, create tempting fake deals, and take advantage of the holiday rush—making it especially important to stay alert.

How Scammers Target Shoppers and Donors

Scammers set up fake online shops that look almost exactly like the real thing, sometimes using web addresses that are just one letter off from legitimate sites. They also run social media ads to draw people in. These fake stores often impersonate popular brands, from Amazon to high-end retailers, with the goal of stealing your payment information and personal details.
Phishing emails are on the rise too. They might look like amazing holiday deals, gift card offers, or urgent requests for donations. Scammers are now using AI to make these emails look flawless, making it harder for even careful shoppers to spot the fakes.
Charity scams also increase this time of year. Criminals create fake charity websites or send emails pretending to be from real organizations, urging you to donate. They often ask for payment in ways that are hard to trace, like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
Investment scams pick up steam, too. Scammers might promise big returns and pretend to be trusted financial advisors or use websites that look completely legitimate.

Takeaway: Smart Shopping and Safe Giving

To keep your money and information safe, double-check any email offers or website links before clicking or sharing personal details. Stick to secure (https) websites when shopping or donating, and never send payment info over public Wi-Fi or through untrusted channels.

Before donating, look up the charity—check independent reviews and see what watchdog groups say about them.
Watch out for deals that seem too good to be true, or last-minute donation requests you get by email or on social media.
Keep an eye on your bank and credit card accounts for any charges you don't recognize, and set up alerts if possible for extra peace of mind.

Benefit: Awareness Is Your Best Defense

Staying alert throughout the holidays goes a long way in protecting yourself from scams. If you make it a habit to question offers and double-check where they're coming from, you'll help keep your identity, finances, and generosity safe—and make sure cybercriminals don't ruin your holiday spirit.

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Disclosure

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice. Please consult cybersecurity experts or financial professionals for personalized guidance. The author has no positions in referenced entities or products at the time of writing.

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Don’t Let Scammers Steal Your Holiday Cheer: How to Shop and Give Safely This Season

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