Protect yourself from these common holiday scams.
The holiday season is here! This is a wonderful time for family, friends, and festive fun. But it’s also a time when scammers try to take advantage of people. While you shop, bake cookies, or enjoy your traditions, please keep an eye out for these common holiday scams. We want you to stay safe and keep your holiday spirit bright!
“Free” Gift Card Scam: Scammers may send pop-up ads, emails, or social media messages offering “free” gift cards. Before you can get the “free” gift, they ask for your personal information—like your address, passwords, or even your Social Security number.
How to protect yourself:
– Be careful with anything that sounds free or too good to be true.
– Only shop with trusted, well-known stores
Grandparent Scam: Scammers now use AI technology to copy a loved one’s voice. You might get a call from someone who sounds like a grandchild or family member saying they’ve been in an accident, arrested, or hospitalized, and they need money right away.
How to protect yourself:
– Pause. Hang up.
– Call your loved one directly to confirm the story before sending any money.
Fake Shipping Notifications: You may receive texts or emails claiming to be from USPS, FedEx, Amazon, or other shippers. They may say a package is delayed, missing, or needs verification. These messages often include links that can download viruses and steal your personal information.
How to protect yourself:
– Do not click links or open attachments from unknown senders.
– Go directly to the company’s official website or app to check your deliveries.
Social Media Gift Exchange: You might see posts inviting you to buy one gift and receive many gifts in return. It may sound fun, but it’s a pyramid scheme.
How to protect yourself:
– Don’t join gift exchanges with strangers online.
– Only buy gifts for people you know.
The Missouri SMP is here to provide you with information you need to protect, detect, and report potential Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. If you think you or a loved one has been a target of a Medicare scam, call the Missouri SMP at 888-515-6565. Happy Holidays from the Missouri SMP!
This project was supported, in part, by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $638,014 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government
Comments 15
Kathleen Collins
Informative!!
redie
always enjoy the reading data
Jackie Shelby
There are so many cyberspace crooks out there now.
Daphne Phillips
Look out for insurance/medicaid/medicare/social security calls/mailings-anything with your name, address, or callers using your name as if they know you. Click, hung up, shred, rip it up so nothing exists. I’m not internet savy, but ask for assistance, if unsure-family members and my favorite, the library-hey Donna FV, Jonathan NB, Tanessa, Michael, Joanie+-Ferguson Library. 🙂
Carlyn Webber
Very informative!
Connie Stref
Everyv member of our family has an emergency safety code and safety question. Two years ago I received a phone call from someine posing as a lawyer. He said my grandson had been arrested as he result of a vehicle accident. The “lawyer” stated that my grandson needed money for bail and to retain a lawyer. The lawyer said my grandson was in Virginia and needed me to wire $5000 to him. My grandson was actually overseas on assignment with the Marines. Initally the phone call shook me horribly. So I can really understand how emotional anyone wouid be immediately upon receiving a phone call like this to the point of panic. It has been my experience that a lot of people/seniors are nt aware of the Grandparent Scam.
I as jolted on receiving this phone call but was aware my grandson was not even in country. I asked the “lawyer” what the emergency code and question was tat my grandson would have given him in order for me to respond to this emergency request. Yep the lawyer ended the phone call immediately. That experience really shook me though.
matias. rodriguez
thanks very much for the information
Janet Ward
Thank you for subect good information.
James P.
As we get older we need to keep getting wiser and not fall for scams.
Betty Sullivan
I want to thank you very much
RObert
Great to know.
juanita Church
Informtion Always Helpful,Thank You
Brenda Morgan
Very helpful information.
Donna W
Great advice. Thanks!
Ruth Ann E
Whenever I receive an email requesting money or saying I had to pay for something I never ordered, I always look up the real number or email for the company and contact them directly. I absolutely never click on the links in the email. I then mark it as SPAM and delete it.