Holiday shopping scams to watch for this season: fake shops, delivery texts, gift cards and payment apps

As holiday deals ramp up this fall, federal agencies are warning shoppers about a familiar set of scams: fake online stores, fake package delivery texts, demands for gift cards and tricks that push people to pay through payment apps. The Federal Trade Commission, the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service all publish guidance on spotting these schemes and reporting them.

The losses are large. In 2025, the FTC received 3 million fraud reports from consumers, who reported $15.9 billion in losses, according to the agency's March 2026 testimony to Congress. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, known as IC3, received 56,478 complaints in 2025 about non-payment and non-delivery scams, in which a buyer pays and the goods never arrive, with reported losses of $503,373,587, according to its 2025 annual report. Those figures reflect only the losses people chose to report.

Fake online shops and too-good-to-be-true ads

Scam stores often appear as social media ads for popular products at steep discounts. The FTC notes that social media platforms do not always thoroughly vet the ads you see or the advertisers behind them, and that brand-name items offered at bargain prices could be counterfeit or stolen.

Hypothetical example: a shopper sees an ad for a name-brand winter coat at 80% off, clicks through to a polished website, and is told the sale price works only with a payment app transfer. The coat never ships, and the site disappears a few weeks later.

The FTC's holiday shopping advice includes these steps:

• Research the seller. Search the seller's name and the website the ad sends you to, plus words like "review," "complaint" or "scam."
• Watch the payment method. The FTC says that if a seller says you can only pay with a gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency, "it's probably a scam."
• Pay by credit card when you can. The FTC says paying by credit card best protects you if something goes wrong, because you can dispute the charge.
• Keep records. Save the receipt and order confirmation number. The FTC says sellers have to ship your order by the time they or their ads say they will, or give you the chance to get your money back.

If you were charged for something you never got, the FTC's online shopping guide says to ask your credit card company to withhold payment while it investigates, and to send a letter within 60 days of the first bill that shows the error.

Fake delivery texts

With more packages in transit, fake tracking texts are a common lure. They claim a delivery failed or a fee is due and include a link to a look-alike site that asks for card details.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says USPS will not send customers text messages or emails without the customer first requesting the service with a tracking number, and that those messages will not contain a link. Its guidance on package tracking text scams says to:

• Not click links in unexpected tracking texts. Check your package by going to the carrier's website yourself.
• Forward the text to 7726 to report it.
• For messages claiming to be from USPS, copy the text without clicking the link and email it to spam@uspis.gov, with a screenshot showing the sender's number and the date.
• Notify your bank or card issuer if you already clicked and entered financial information.

Gift card demands

Gift cards are popular presents, and they are also a favorite of scammers. As the FTC puts it, scammers often ask you to pay in a way that makes it hard to get your money back. The FTC's rule of thumb is simple: "No real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them." The FBI said the same about officials in a Sept. 17, 2026, public service announcement: law enforcement and government officials will never request payment via prepaid cards, cryptocurrency or courier.

If you paid a scammer with a gift card, the FTC's gift card guidance says to contact the company that issued the card as soon as possible, even if time has passed, and ask whether the money can be frozen or refunded. Keep the card and the store receipt.

Payment app tricks

Payment apps are designed for sending money quickly, which is exactly why scammers push them. The FTC warns that scammers may try to trick you into sending money through a mobile payment app because once you do, it is hard to get your money back.

The FTC's payment app guidance says to protect your account with multifactor authentication or a PIN, never give your login details to anyone who contacts you, and double-check the recipient before you send money. Be wary of anyone selling a hot holiday item, such as a game console or concert tickets, who insists on a payment app transfer from someone they have never met. If you paid a scammer this way, report it to the app right away and to the FTC.

How to report a holiday scam

• FTC: Report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• FBI: File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov, especially if money was lost online.
• Postal Inspection Service: Send USPS-themed scam texts to spam@uspis.gov, and forward any scam text to 7726.
• Your bank, card issuer or app: Call the number on your card or statement, not one from the message, and ask about stopping or disputing the payment.
• IdentityTheft.gov: If you shared your Social Security number or account details, the FTC's IdentityTheft.gov site lists recovery steps.

Act quickly: the sooner you contact your bank or card issuer, the more options it may have. Rules on disputes and refunds vary by payment method and company, so check the terms with your own bank or card issuer.