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Field guide · Christmas and the winter holidays 2026
Holiday scams 2026: what to watch for before Christmas
More parcels, more giving, more travel and more deals: the weeks before Christmas are the busiest of the year for scammers too. Here are five holiday scams, what each one looks like, the pressure tactic behind it and what to do instead.
Before you start
- Keep a list of what's on its way.
Order confirmations in one folder means a "missed delivery" text for a parcel you never ordered stands out.
- Set your giving and spending first.
Decide which charities you'll support and how much you'll spend before the appeals and countdowns start.
- Use a credit card or a trusted payment service.
They usually give you more protection than a bank transfer, gift card or crypto if something goes wrong.
The five scams to watch for
Christmas delivery texts
Fake missed-delivery texts in the name of postal and courier services. The tiny fee is the hook: the page behind the link takes your card details, and sometimes your online banking login.
Delivery: We tried to deliver your parcel today but no one was home. A redelivery fee of 1.45 is due by 11pm or it will be returned to sender: link removed
The tactic
What to do
- Don't tap the link. Check the tracking number on the retailer's or courier's own app or website.
- Real couriers don't hold a parcel hostage for a small fee by text.
- Forward the text to 7726 (US and UK), then delete it.
Requests to pay in gift cards
A "boss", relative, tech-support agent or official asks you to buy gift cards and send the numbers on the back. At Christmas it's dressed up as presents or staff thank-yous. Once you share the codes, the money is gone.
Hi, are you at your desk? I need a quick favour for the team's Christmas thank-yous. Can you pick up 5 gift cards at 200 each and send me photos of the codes? I'm in meetings all day so email only, and keep it a surprise.
The tactic
Authority pressure, Isolation and secrecy, False urgency
What to do
- Anyone who asks you to pay with gift cards and send the numbers is a scammer. No real business or agency asks for this.
- Check with the person on a number you already have, not by replying.
- If you've already sent codes, contact the gift card company straight away and ask for a refund.
Fake charities and end-of-year appeals
Copycat charities with names close to real ones, crowdfunding pages for stories that aren't true, and phone appeals that won't take no for an answer. The money never reaches anyone in need.
Every gift DOUBLED until midnight! 🎄 Help us keep a family warm this Christmas. 1,240 people have given today. Donate now by gift card or crypto: link removed
The tactic
Guilt and obligation, False urgency, Social-proof pressure
What to do
- Look the charity up yourself, with words like "complaint" or "scam", before you give.
- Give by credit card or cheque. Cash, gift card, crypto or wire transfer requests are warning signs.
- Don't let anyone rush you. A real charity will still take your gift tomorrow.
Holiday travel and rental deals
Fake or hijacked rental listings, cheap flights and "free" holiday prizes that need a fee. Prices are far below everyone else's and there's always someone else about to book it.
Cabin for Christmas week, 60% off because of a cancellation! Three other families are asking about it, so I can only hold it until tonight. Pay the deposit by bank transfer and I'll send the keys code.
The tactic
Too good to be true, Manufactured scarcity, False urgency
What to do
- Search the property address with the owner's or company's name. The same place listed elsewhere is a red flag.
- Never pay by wire transfer, gift card, payment app or crypto to someone you only know online.
- A real company won't ask you to pay for a free prize.
Fake shops and social media deals
Ads for sold-out toys, designer goods and electronics at prices that look like a gift. Many of these shops vanish with the money, and social media and online marketplaces are where most buyers meet them.
Sponsored · This year's must-have toy at HALF PRICE. Only 3 sets left, guaranteed delivery before Christmas! Bank transfer only for this deal.
The tactic
Too good to be true, Manufactured scarcity, Price anchoring
What to do
- Research a shop you haven't used before, with reviews from people or sites you trust.
- Pay by credit card or a trusted payment service, never by bank transfer to a stranger.
- Turn on two-step sign-in for your email and shopping accounts.
If you already paid or shared details
If you paid or shared card details, call your bank on the number on your card straight away. Then report it: in the US at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and if you lost money online also at IC3.gov; in the UK to Report Fraud (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland on 101. Forward scam texts to 7726. Other countries: how to report a scam.
Not sure about a holiday deal, text or appeal?
Paste it or upload a screenshot. The Pressure Check names the tactics, quotes the words that show them and suggests a calm next step. Free, no account needed.
Run a free Pressure CheckQuestions
What are the most common holiday scams?
Fake delivery texts, requests to pay in gift cards, fake charities, too-good-to-be-true travel deals and fake online shops, especially ones found through social media ads.
Is a missed delivery text with a small fee a scam?
Treat it as one. Couriers don't usually ask for a small redelivery fee through a text link. Check the tracking number on the retailer's or courier's own app instead.
Why do scammers ask for gift cards?
Because once you share the numbers on the back, the money is almost impossible to trace or get back. No real business, agency or boss asks to be paid in gift cards.
How do I check a charity before I give?
Search the charity's exact name with words like "complaint", "review" or "scam", look it up with a charity watchdog, and give by credit card or cheque rather than cash, gift card or crypto.
Can Kindyra OS check a holiday deal or text for me?
Yes. Paste the message or upload a screenshot into the free Pressure Check. It names the pressure tactics and scam signs, quotes the exact words and suggests a calm next step.