‘Tis the season for shopping and gift-gifting! And since scammers don’t take a holiday break, it’s also the season to keep a close eye on your account charges.
With more ways to shop and donate online, plus digital checkout features like tap to pay (at gas stations and restaurants, for example), the opportunities for fraud and scams abound. It’s important to remember that even if you don’t do gifting, donating, or banking on a phone or computer, your financial information is still at risk.
In this article, we’ll take a look at statistics around scams targeting older adults. We’ll also include practical, expert-backed tips for preventing fraud and other financial fiascos year-round.
The Stats on Scams
A November 2025 report from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network revealed that fraud and scams were all too common this year, with several areas seeing an increase in activity from 2024 (such as peer-to-peer payments).
Here are a few of the key findings:
- About 89 percent of adults have experienced at least one type of fraud this year.
- Over half of adults received fake shipping texts and toll payment texts this year.
- Nearly half of adults were targeted by scammers through social media ads.
During the holidays especially, consumers report an increase in requests for money from what often turn out to be fake charities, as well as fraudulent texts regarding shipping and delivery problems. Online shopping scams — especially related to gift card purchases, travel reservations, and purchases through pop-up ads — continue to be problematic particularly for older adults.
5 Ways to Stay Safe from Scams This Season
Consider these senior holiday scam prevention tips for safer shopping and donating (which can be applied year-round):
- Stay up to date on the latest alerts. The AARP Fraud Watch Network is full of resources, from the website to their webinars and expert-led podcast, The Perfect Scam. You can also follow their Twitter and Facebook accounts, sign up for text alerts, or check out their Scam-Tracking Map. A Spanish translation of the website is also available.
- Practice digital and fiscal safety. Change your passwords frequently, and make sure your usernames and passwords do not include personal information like your birth year, street name, or apartment number. Logout of websites that store your personal information, and close out tabs and windows that you are not actively using. Keep your credit cards, debit cards, and pin numbers safe and secure, both when shopping online or out in public. Get confirmation numbers and gift receipts for digital or hard copy gift cards.
- Think before you buy. If a deal seems too good to be true, check and double-check before entering that payment information and hitting submit. AARP calls it “Pause, Reflect, Protect.” Pop-up ads and social media ads can be very pervasive, persistent, and persuasive, but look for signs of AI-generated images and inconsistent, inaccurate information on a website that might give away a scammer or fraudulent merchant. Check with savvy kids, grandkids, or friends who have a good eye for fakes or suspicious sites.
- Shop from brands and businesses you know and trust. You don’t have to stick to small businesses or brick and mortar shops only, though it is ideal in a lot of ways. Nevertheless, sticking with trusted brands and established companies — whether it’s local or global — will better position you to know where your money goes. That being said, many banking experts recommend using credit over debit as it’s more secure and easier to track (and return/refund) fraudulent purchases.
- Protect your packages. Many people use security cameras as a way of monitoring who comes to the front door or other areas of the home where packages may be delivered. This is one way to keep an eye on things when you are away, or even if you are home but don’t recognize a certain delivery person or company. Ask for credentials and ways to verify identity if you are unsure when answering the door, and be wary of using peer-to-peer payments like Venmo or Zelle for people who may come door-to-door for donations.
Keep the holiday season bright by staying alert and aware of scams targeting seniors: share this information with your friends and family, and shop safely!
