The holidays are a time for giving, celebrating, and spreading cheer—but scammers are hoping to steal a little of your joy this season. Here are the most common holiday scams with tips to keep your holidays merry and safe:

1. Charity scams

The season of giving brings out generosity, and scammers know it. Some pose as real charities or create fake ones.

📌Tips: Double-check before donating to make sure your gift lands in the right hands; use a trusted site like Stanford FCU’s Giving Center in Digital Banking to donate to verified charities.

2. Fake shipping alerts

Excited about your holiday packages? Scammers are too. They send fake text or email shipping messages that look just like the real thing to trick you into sharing your personal info.

📌Tips: Don’t click any links or open attachments; track your packages safely through the retailer’s or shipper’s official website.

3. Gift card payment scams

Gift cards make great gifts but they’re not a safe way to pay anyone. If someone asks you to pay with a gift card, it’s a scam. Real businesses and charities will never request payment that way.

📌Tips: Be cautious, especially with online purchases. Avoid paying with cash, wire transfers, Zelle^®, or gift cards since you can’t get the money back.

Staying alert can help keep your holidays stress-free. If something feels off, trust your gut and reach out to us anytime by calling 888.723.7328, using Chat or scheduling a virtual appointment.