The holidays should be about family, friends, food and festivities. Unfortunately, too often, they are also about fraud. A recent AARP survey of 1,869 U.S. consumers age 18 and older finds that in the past year, 82 percent of U.S. consumers have experienced or been targeted by at least one form of fraud. Read on to learn more about some of the most prevalent scams facing consumers today.

Online shopping scams and social media

Online shopping scams have been around as long as we’ve been shopping online, but disturbingly, knowledge of safe online shopping practices has dropped. Nearly half (44 percent) of U.S. adults bought something through an ad on their social media feed, up from 38 percent in 2023, and 35 percent report being the victim of fraud from such a purchase. When you click on a link, look for HTTPS (not HTTP) and a padlock symbol near the URL in the address bar. Click on the padlock symbol to check whether the connection is secure, and the SSL certificate is valid. This is especially important if you click on an Instagram or Facebook ad and it takes you to an online store. Keep in mind that social media is not designed for shopping, and scammers know they can easily attract people there rather than store websites directly.

And, when you go to pay, the survey revealed that only 56 percent of respondents know that a credit card is the safest way to pay. Other payment methods including debit cards and peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo and Paypal don’t have the same consumer protections.

Charitable Giving

Charitable giving is often a part of Americans’ holiday traditions. In 2022, we contributed $319.04 billion to charity according to the Giving USA Foundation’s annual report on U.S. philanthropy. That generosity supports many amazing organizations that put those billions to work for health care, education, environmental protection, the arts, and numerous other causes, but it also puts you at risk of giving money to criminals.

Fake or sham charities pop up when crises appear in the news, and many fake charities have legitimate-looking names and websites, making them hard to discern as fraudulent. You’ll feel pressured to contribute but hold tight until you do your research.

Check the nonprofit’s website and social media for information about its impact. Many nonprofits will release newsletters or impact statements about the work they’ve accomplished. You can also use a charity review site to get additional information. Free online resources like Charity Navigator and BBB Wise Giving Alliance aggregate ratings and reviews for nonprofit organizations.

Bitcoin ATMs or cryptocurrency scams

Most of us now know that being asked to buy gift cards or convert cash to Bitcoin to handle urgent financial matters are common scam tactics to avoid.

But, new data from the Federal Trade Commission shows a massive increase in the amount of money consumers report losing to scammers involving Bitcoin ATM machines. Since 2020, the amount consumers reported losing has increased nearly tenfold to over $110 million in 2023.

Bitcoin ATMs are machines that look like a traditional ATM and are often found at convenience stores, gas stations and other high-traffic areas. Instead of distributing cash, they accept cash in exchange for cryptocurrency. Their use by scammers, who urge consumers to deposit cash into them to “protect” their savings, is on the rise.

Remember, there is never a legitimate reason for someone to send you to a Bitcoin ATM. Neither Bitcoin nor the ATM will protect your money. Only a scammer will give you a QR code to “help” you deposit your life savings in a Bitcoin ATM. Never move or transfer your money to “protect it.” Your money is fine where it is, no matter what they say or how urgently they say it.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource for all. Learn how to proactively spot scams or get guidance if you’ve been targeted. Visit www.aarp.org/fraud or call our dedicated helpline to speak to a fraud specialist at 1-877-908-3360.