Holiday Scams Are Everywhere: What Consumers Need to Know in 2026

The holidays bring more shopping, travel, package deliveries, and charitable giving, but they also bring more opportunities for criminals to target consumers.

New AARP research finds that fraud remains deeply embedded in everyday life, with more than 4 in 5 U.S. adults (84%) reporting they have been targeted by or experienced at least one common type of fraud.

From fake online ads and fraudulent shipping messages to gift card scams and deceptive donation requests, here are the scams consumers should watch for this holiday season.

Many of the scams highlighted in this year’s survey are tied to the growing role of digital commerce in holiday shopping.  One-quarter (25%) of consumers plan to shop online more this holiday season than they did last year. As more shopping takes place online, consumers must navigate advertisements, payment platforms, and messages that can be difficult to distinguish from legitimate communications.

Scams continue to follow consumers online

Online advertisements are one notable source of concern. Nearly half (47%) of adults report making a purchase after seeing an online advertisement, while 39% say they have experienced fraud after doing so. Consumers also express uncertainty about the trustworthiness of these ads. More than half (53%) either believe social media advertisements are trustworthy or are unsure whether they can be trusted.

These findings highlight the need for consumers to know how to spot deceptive online ads and recognize when an offer may not be legitimate. They also reinforce the need for stronger protections to help keep consumers safe when they shop online.

Digital payments remain popular

Consumers continue to embrace peer-to-peer payment platforms such as Cash App, Venmo, and Zelle. Three in 4 (74%) adults report using one of these services during the past year, and nearly half (47%) say they are likely to use a peer-to-peer payment app when purchasing gifts this holiday season. Use of these platforms has grown notably among older consumers over the last year.

At the same time, many consumers remain uncertain about the protections associated with different payment methods. While 7 in 10 (70%) plan to use credit cards this holiday season, only 59% correctly identified that credit cards are the safest way to make purchases online. Overall understanding of common fraud-prevention practices remains low, with only one-quarter (25%) of adults answering seven or more fraud-safety questions correctly. These findings point to continued opportunities for consumer education about online shopping, payments, and fraud prevention.

Holiday traditions continue to attract criminal activity

Gift cards remain among the most popular holiday gifts, with 7 in 10 (71%) consumers planning to purchase them this year. They also continue to be a common target for criminals. More than one-third (35%) of adults report having given or received a gift card that had no funds available, often because the card information had been compromised. While more victims are successfully recovering some of their losses than in previous years, many still report that the funds could not be restored.

Package delivery presents another challenge during the holiday season. Half (51%) of consumers expect to send packages this year, while 3 in 10 (30%) report having experienced package theft. In addition, nearly half (47%) say they have received a fraudulent message claiming there was a problem with shipment. These scams often mimic legitimate delivery notifications, making them difficult for consumers to distinguish from genuine communications.

Scams extend beyond shopping

Fraud is not limited to holiday purchases. One in 6 (16%) consumers report paying for travel arrangements that later proved to be fraudulent, while nearly one-third (31%) say they have received a donation request that appeared fake or suspicious. At the same time, many (62%) consumers do not consistently research organizations before contributing to charitable causes.

Text-based scams also remain widespread. Although reports of fraudulent toll-payment text messages have declined since the previous year, 44% of adults still report receiving one. Among those who received a scam text, nearly 1 in 10 (9%) say they made a payment as directed. These findings show how quickly criminals adapt familiar technologies and communications channels to create convincing scams.

Consumers want greater protection

Fraud prevention cannot depend on consumers alone. Across racial and ethnic groups, age groups, and political affiliations, Americans express strong agreement that lawmakers should do more to protect consumers from fraud. Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) adults say they strongly or somewhat agree that lawmakers need to take additional action.

The findings suggest that addressing fraud requires multiple approaches. Consumer education remains critically important, particularly around online advertising, digital payments, gift cards, charitable giving, and emerging scam tactics. At the same time, Americans clearly recognize that stronger consumer protections and broader societal responses are needed to help keep pace with the evolving tactics used by criminals. As the holiday season approaches, scams continue to touch nearly every aspect of consumer life, making awareness, education, and protection more important than ever.

Methodology

AARP engaged ANR Market Research Consultants to conduct a survey of 1,801 U.S. adults age 18 and older who use the internet and shop during the holiday season. Interviews were conducted by landline, cellphone, and online between June 22 and July 3, 2026.

For more information, please contact Joanne Binette at jbinette@aarp.org. For media inquiries, contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.