The holidays are one of the busiest times for cybercriminals. Online shopping skyrockets inboxes fill with order confirmations and most people are juggling travel family and work at the same time. That distraction is exactly what attackers wait for. They know you are moving fast not double checking links and more likely to click before you think.

This week we are focusing on what is actually happening right now. The scams we are seeing this season and how you can stay ahead of them.

The Most Common Holiday Tech Scams Right Now

These are not hypothetical. These are the real attacks circulating during the holiday period.

1. Delivery Failure Text Scams

How it works: You receive a text that appears to be from FedEx UPS USPS or Amazon claiming a package could not be delivered. The link asks you to pay a small redelivery fee or verify your login.

Why it works: People are expecting packages so the scam blends into routine activity.

Your defense: Track packages only through the official retailer website or app you open yourself. Never through a text message.

2. Too Good to Be True Electronics Deals

How it works: New pop up stores on Instagram TikTok or Facebook offer electronic devices at prices far below normal retail. Orders never ship or your card information is stolen.

Your defense: Check for reviews older than six months a legitimate contact page and real customer history. If none exist it is safer to skip the purchase.

3. Fake Customer Service Calls

How it works: Scammers call pretending to be Amazon Apple or another retailer claiming there is a problem with your account. They ask for personal information or request that you verify your card number.

Your defense: Hang up and contact the retailer using the official number on their website. Do not give information to the caller who reached out to you first.

4. Account Locked Email Scams

How it works: You receive an email that appears to be from Amazon PayPal Apple or Best Buy saying your account was compromised and you must log in to secure it. The link leads to a convincing but fake login page.

Your defense: If you need to check log in manually by opening your browser and typing the website address yourself. Never through the email link.

5. Artificial Intelligence Imitation Voice Scams

How it works: Attackers clone the voice of a family member or colleague and claim to urgently need money or help.

Your defense: Have a family or team verification word that must be repeated during emergencies. If the caller cannot say it end the call and verify through another channel.

6. Gift Card Scams

How it works: Scammers contact you claiming you must pay a fee settle a debt or secure a special offer using gift cards such as Apple Google Play or retail branded cards. They instruct you to buy the cards then read the numbers over the phone which immediately transfers the value to them.

Why it works: Gift card payments are instant untraceable and difficult to reverse which is why scammers push them so aggressively.

Your defense: Treat any request for gift card payment as a scam. No legitimate business government agency or retailer will ever ask for payment this way.

Smart Habits That Make You Much Harder to Scam

• Enable multifactor authentication for all shopping and banking accounts
• It prevents most unauthorized access even if someone steals your password.
• Use digital wallets for online purchases
• Apple Pay Google Pay and similar services protect your actual card number.
• Review bank card and credit transactions weekly
• Early detection makes fraud far easier to fix.
• Update your devices and apps before traveling
• Updates close security gaps criminals target during busy seasons.
• Consider a temporary credit freeze for added protection
• This blocks scammers from opening accounts in your name.
• Pause when something feels urgent
• Urgency is one of the strongest indicators of fraud.

Bottom Line

Holiday scams work because they blend into normal holiday behavior. We are expecting packages we are hunting for deals and we are moving quickly. Slow down verify the source and take a moment before clicking or paying. That one pause can stop an expensive mistake.