Scammers work overtime during the holidays, and the FTC says texts are their top way in. Here is what experts say to watch for.
Fake Delivery Texts
A text claiming your package needs a fee is the season’s most reported scam. The FTC advises never tapping links in unexpected texts; instead, open the retailer’s app yourself and check tracking there. Forward suspicious texts to 7726.
The Tariff Twist
Scammers now claim you owe a tariff before your order ships. The FCC warns that legitimate companies disclose fees up front. A surprise tariff text is a red flag.
AI-Crafted Phishing Pages
Scam sites now use AI-polished copy and logos that look nearly identical to real stores. Security firm Aura recommends checking the URL for swapped letters, like walrnart, and never entering payment details from a link.
Fake Order Confirmations
An email about an order you never placed, urging you to click and dispute it, is bait. The FTC says to log in through the retailer’s own site instead. If no such order exists there, delete the message.
Social Media Ad Traps
Flashy ads for deep discounts lead to fake storefronts selling knockoffs or nothing at all. Aura advises skipping the link and going to the retailer’s website to check whether the deal is real.
Sources: FTC, FCC, Aura
