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. 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 holidays bring out the best in people—but unfortunately, they can also bring out the worst in scammers. Every year, fraudsters take advantage of the season’s goodwill and busy schedules to trick shoppers, steal personal information, and gain access to accounts. From fake delivery notices to emotional donation pleas, the tactics change, but the goal never does: to catch you off guard.

Have you ever had someone approach you in a parking lot asking for help—maybe to borrow your phone for a quick call or to find a lost family member? It sounds harmless, but recently, scammers have been using that exact setup to steal from people.

We work our entire lives to build a retirement we can look forward to. The last thing any of us want is to see it stolen by a scam—and that’s exactly what’s happening right now. The FBI is warning seniors about a highly sophisticated scheme called the “Phantom Hacker.” It’s draining retirement accounts and costing victims their life savings.