As the holiday season approaches, fraudulent activity aimed at older adults increases significantly. Seniors are often targeted because they tend to be trusting, financially secure, and sometimes less familiar with fast-changing technology. During November and December, seniors are more engaged in shopping, communication, charitable giving, and financial activity, all of which create opportunities for scammers. Understanding what these scams look like and how to prevent them is essential to protecting ourselves or our aging loved ones.
Why Holiday Scams Target Seniors
Seniors may spend more time alone, making them more likely to engage with callers or respond to messages. They are also more active during the holidays in areas that scammers watch closely: purchasing online, shipping packages, making donations, and communicating with relatives. Scammers use emotional tactics, urgency, or familiarity to trick people into sharing personal information or sending money.
Common Holiday Scams Targeting Seniors in 2025
Fake Package Delivery Messages
These scams often appear as texts or emails pretending to be from UPS, FedEx, USPS, or Amazon. They may say that a package is delayed or requires a small re-delivery fee. Clicking the link leads to identity theft or malicious software.
What to do: Never click delivery links from unknown messages. Instead, visit the company’s official website directly or check tracking numbers from your original purchase email.
Grandparent or Emergency Family Scam
This scam involves a phone call from someone pretending to be a grandchild or family member in trouble. They may say they are in jail, in an accident, or stranded while traveling. They often beg for secrecy and quick financial help.
What to do: Hang up and call the family member directly. Never send gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to solve emergencies.
Charity Donation Scams
Fake charities are common during the holidays. Scammers use emotional stories and sometimes real-sounding names to trick seniors into donating.
What to do: Always search for the charity on CharityNavigator.org or Give.org before donating. Avoid giving personal or financial information to unsolicited callers.
Online Shopping and Fake Retail Sites
Seniors searching for holiday bargains may land on fraudulent websites offering deep discounts. The scammer either collects money and never ships the item, or sends cheap and fake products.
What to do: Avoid offers that seem too good to be true. Look for “https” in the web address, verify customer reviews, and never shop on websites without clear contact information.
Tech Support and Security Alert Scams
A pop-up message may appear on the computer warning that the device is infected with a virus or that personal information has been stolen. It tells the senior to call a number or click for help, leading to loss of control of the device or financial theft.
What to do: Close the browser or restart the computer. Do not call any phone number shown in the pop-up.
Medicare and Benefits Scams During Open Enrollment
Scammers pretend to be from Medicare or Social Security, claiming that benefits need to be verified or renewed. They ask for Social Security or bank information.
What to do: Medicare will not call to request personal information. If in doubt, call the number on your Medicare card directly.
Holiday Sweepstakes and Prize Scams
Callers may say that the senior has won a sweepstakes or holiday prize but must pay taxes or processing fees before claiming it.
What to do: Real prizes do not require upfront payments. Never send money, gift cards, or personal details to claim a contest.
Romance and Companion Scams
During the holidays, loneliness increases, making companionship scams more effective. Scammers build emotional connections online and eventually ask for money to solve made-up emergencies.
What to do: Never send money to someone you have not met in person.
How Families Can Help Protect Seniors
Have Open Discussions About Scams
Many seniors do not report scams because they are embarrassed or afraid. Talking openly and regularly about scams helps reduce risk and builds confidence.
Encourage Safe Communication Habits
Remind seniors not to give personal or financial information over the phone, text, or email unless they are certain of the source. Government agencies, banks, and charities do not request sensitive information through random calls.
Use Financial Protection Tools
Set up account alerts, monitor unusual transactions, and consider spending or transfer limits. A trusted family member can help oversee suspicious activity if needed.
Set Up Call Screening and Block Unwanted Calls
Telemarketing and scam calls are common during the holidays. Set up call blocking or let unknown numbers go to voicemail before engaging in conversation.
Review Mail and Email Together
Encourage seniors to ask for help before responding to unfamiliar messages, requests for donations, or offers that require immediate action.
Final Thoughts
Holiday scams take advantage of kindness, generosity, and emotional vulnerability. Protecting seniors begins with awareness, ongoing conversation, and support. The more seniors and their families understand about how these scams work, the better prepared they are to avoid them. Seniors deserve to enjoy the season with peace of mind and confidence.
Written by Jennifer Carter, Owner of Star Light Senior Advisors
