Stay Safe This Holiday Season: Holiday Scams to Watch Out for in 2025

The holidays should be simple: gifts, travel, and quality time with friends and family. But for scammers, this is peak season. Everyone is busy, spending more, and letting their guard down—and that's exactly what fraudsters are counting on.

Why Scammers Love the Holidays

Criminals target this time of year because it creates the perfect storm:

• Rushed Decisions: Between shopping, travel, work, and family, it’s easy to rush through a checkout or click a link without thinking.
• Spending Spikes: More purchases mean more opportunities for fake stores, payment traps, and bogus delivery alerts.
• High Emotions: The pressure to get everything done makes people act quickly instead of carefully.

Knowing their tactics is your best defense.

To protect your money and your peace of mind, here is a breakdown of the most dangerous scams we're tracking this year, along with simple steps to stay safe.

The 5 Most Dangerous Holiday Scams This Year

1. The Fake Online Store Trap

Fraudsters can launch a realistic-looking store in a matter of minutes, stealing product photos and baiting shoppers with "too-good-to-be-true" holiday deals. You pay, they send a fake tracking number, and nothing ever arrives. These sites vanish as quickly as they popped up.

Red Flags to watch for:

• Discounts that feel impossible (e.g., a $400 item for $50).
• A brand-new website (check if it was created in the last 60 days).
• No real customer service phone number provided.
• The only ads you see are on social media.

What you should do Stick to known retailers you trust. Before buying, search the store name with "reviews" or "scam." If the deal is unrealistic, it’s most likely a scam.

2. The Bogus Delivery Text (Smishing)

Everyone is expecting packages, so this scam works perfectly. You get a text claiming there’s a problem with your UPS, FedEx, or Amazon delivery. The link takes you to a fake page designed to steal your credit card details or install malware.

Red Flags to Watch For:

• "Delivery failed—click here to reschedule/pay a fee."
• Strange, shortened links that don't look like the carrier's official website.
• Requests for any payment to "release" the package.

What You Should Do: NEVER click the link provided. If you’re worried, go directly to the retailer or carrier's official website or app and check your order status there.

3. QR Code Scams (Quishing)

QR codes used to be harmless, but scammers are now placing fake codes over legitimate ones (on parking meters, menus, or signs). Scanning the code can redirect you to:

• A fake bank or login page.
• A payment portal asking for "verification."
• A malware download.

What You Should Do: Only scan codes from truly trusted sources. If a code looks like a sticker placed over another sticker, skip it entirely.

4. Gift Card Payment Pressure

Scammers love gift cards because they are anonymous and impossible to reverse. They create a high-pressure emergency to get you to act fast.

• "Your computer is hacked—buy gift cards to fix it."
• "Your grandchild is in trouble—send money now."
• "You owe back taxes—we only accept gift cards today."

What You Should Do: No legitimate business, bank, or government agency will ever ask you to pay with a gift card, cryptocurrency, or Zelle/Venmo/Cash App transfers. If someone insists on gift cards, it is a scam—every single time.

5. Urgent, Voice-Cloned Phone Calls

This is the newest and scariest threat. Using a few seconds of audio, scammers can clone a loved one's voice with alarming accuracy. They will call with an urgent plea:

• "Mom, I lost my wallet and need money immediately."
• "This is your boss, I need you to make an urgent payment now."

What You Should Do: If someone calls asking for money or personal information—even if their voice sounds familiar—hang up immediately. Call them back using a number you know is correct (like their cell phone) and verify the story. Verification is your safety net.

Your Best Defense: Slow Down

Most victims realize they were scammed only after they were pressured into acting fast. When you feel any of these warning signs, SLOW DOWN:

• Someone is telling you to act fast or else.
• You're being told not to tell anyone (especially your bank or credit union).
• The story involves a large transfer, a gift card, or crypto purchase.
• The story simply doesn't feel right.

A scammer's biggest weapon is urgency. If you feel nervous or pressured, pause and walk away from the call or computer.

Simple Rules to Protect Your Money

• Nuvision will never call you asking for your PIN or online banking password.
• Hang up on any unexpected, urgent call and call back using the official number on the company's website.
• Be highly skeptical of gift card, crypto, or Zelle/Venmo payment requests.
• Don't send money to anyone you haven't met in person.

When in Doubt, Call Us

If something feels wrong—no matter how small—pause and check. Call us,  ask questions. We're here to protect your peace of mind and your money so you can truly enjoy this holiday season. You can learn more about scams and prevention strategies on our Fraud Protection Blog.