Tech Talk: Dont’t Let Scammers Do You Holiday Shopping

The holiday shopping season is here, and so are the scammers. They know we’re busy, distracted and in a generous mood. They also know more of us are shopping from our phones and laptops than ever. More than a third of older adults shop online at least once a week, and two-thirds say they’ll do most or all of their holiday shopping online this year.

The numbers aren’t pretty. Seniors lost $1.5 billion to fraud in the first half of 2025 alone, and victims 60 and older reported higher median losses than younger adults. The good news is that most holiday scams follow a handful of patterns. Once you know them, they’re much easier to spot.

The fake store

This is the big one. Among seniors who’ve been scammed, 62 percent fell for online shopping scams, far more than delivery text scams, gift card schemes or fake charities.

It usually starts with an ad on Facebook or Instagram. You see a designer coat for $39 or a name-brand blender at 80 percent off. You click, it looks like a real store, you pay. Then nothing arrives, or something cheap and useless shows up weeks later. Some of these sites exist only to steal your card number.

What to watch for: prices that are too good to be true, and web addresses with extra letters or words added to a familiar name. A fake site might be “amazon-deals-outlet.com” instead of “amazon.com.” The safest habit is to skip the ad entirely. Type the store’s name into your browser yourself, or use the store’s own app.

The “missed delivery” text

You get a text saying a package couldn’t be delivered and you need to click a link to reschedule or pay a small fee. Since you probably do have packages coming, it feels believable.
Don’t click. UPS, FedEx and the Postal Service don’t text you out of the blue asking for money. If you’re expecting something, go to the retailer’s website or app and check the tracking there. Then delete the text.

The gift card request

Any time someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card, it’s a scam. Full stop. That includes a caller claiming to be from your bank, the IRS, Medicare, a utility company or tech support. It includes a text or email that seems to come from a friend who’s “in a bind.” Real businesses and government agencies don’t take payment in gift cards. Scammers love them because the money is gone the minute you read them the numbers.

The fake charity

The holidays bring out the giver in all of us, and scammers know it. They set up official-sounding charities, sometimes borrowing the names of causes our community cares about deeply. Before you donate, look the group up yourself rather than clicking a link in an email or social media post. Give through the charity’s own website, and be wary of anyone who pressures you to give right now.

Pay with a credit card

This one tip will save you more trouble than any other. When you shop online, use a credit card rather than a debit card, a bank transfer, or an app like Zelle or Venmo. Credit cards give you strong protection if you’re cheated. You can dispute the charge and you’re usually not on the hook for it. With a debit card or a payment app, that money comes straight out of your account and can be much harder to get back.

If it happens to you

First, don’t be embarrassed. These people are professionals, and smart, careful people get taken every day. An AARP report found that 89 percent of U.S. adults have experienced at least one scam. You’re in very large company.

Then act quickly. Call your bank or credit card company right away and tell them what happened. Change any passwords you may have given out. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. It’s free, you don’t have to be an AARP member, and trained volunteers can walk you through what to do next.

The bottom line

Slow down. Scammers depend on you acting fast, whether it’s a “limited time” deal, an urgent text or a caller who won’t let you hang up. When something feels rushed, that’s your signal to stop, close the screen and check it out on your own. The deal, the package and the charity will all still be there in ten minutes. If they aren’t, you’ve just been saved.

Happy and safe shopping.