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