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Holiday Shopping Scams 2026: Fake Stores, Deals and Texts

Fake online stores, too-good deals, delivery texts and gift card tricks. How to shop safely this holiday season and what to do if an order goes wrong.

By Nathan Fielder Checked against official sources

Published

Quick answer

Holiday shopping scams include fake online stores, social media ads for deals that never ship, fake delivery texts and requests to pay by gift card, wire or crypto. Shop at sites you type in yourself, search the store name with 'scam' or 'complaint,' and pay by credit card so you can dispute the charge.

Holiday shopping scams follow online shoppers through the holiday rush. If you plan to give to a charity this GivingTuesday or at year end, see how to check a charity before you give. Last November, the FTC reminded holiday shoppers that scammers “camp out online all year long.” The tricks are familiar: fake stores, too-good-to-be-true ads, fake delivery texts and sellers who want unusual payments. Here’s how to spot them and what to do if a purchase goes wrong.

What holiday scams should you watch for this year?

Watch for four kinds:

  • Fake online stores and ads. The FTC warns that scammers, especially on social media, impersonate real companies and run ads for brand-name products at unusually low prices. The link may lead to a site that takes your money and sends a counterfeit, something that looks nothing like the picture, or nothing at all.
  • Social media shopping scams. Shopping scams were the most-reported scam on social media in 2025. More than 40% of people who lost money to a scam on social media said it started with an ad, according to the FTC.
  • Fake delivery texts. Messages about a “failed delivery” or “redelivery fee” are easy to believe when you’re expecting packages. Fake package delivery problems were the most common text scam the FTC saw in 2024. See USPS will never send you this text.
  • Gift card demands. Real sellers don’t require gift cards. Anyone who does is a scammer. See gift card scams.
EXAMPLE — SCAM
(213) 555-0175 Text message

HOLIDAY FLASH SALE 🎁 Brand-name boots 80% OFF — today only! Only 7 pairs left in your size. Shop now before they’re gone: https://boots-outlet-sale.example.com

A holiday 'flash sale' text that leads to a copycat store This is a made-up example based on real scam reports. Never reply to, call, or tap links in messages like this.

How do you spot a fake online store?

Use the FTC’s checklist before you buy from a store you don’t know:

  1. Do some research. Search the seller’s name and the exact web address the ad sent you to, plus words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam,” to see what others say.
  2. Check the web address carefully. Copycat sites often use a name that’s one letter off or adds extra words.
  3. Compare the price. Brand-name items at a fraction of the normal price are a common sign of a scam.
  4. Check how they want you to pay. If the seller says you can only pay with a gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency, the FTC says it’s probably a scam.

Our 10 checks to tell if a website is legit go into more detail.

Are social media holiday deals safe?

Some are real, but treat every ad with care. The FTC warns that social media platforms don’t always thoroughly vet the ads you see or the advertisers behind them, and scammers buy ads like any other business. If an ad catches your eye, leave the app and go to the company’s official website by typing the address yourself. If the deal isn’t there, don’t buy it through the ad.

Read more about social media scams.

What if your order never arrives?

Start with the seller. The FTC says sellers must ship your order by the time they or their ads say they will, or give you the chance to cancel and get your money back. Your receipt and order confirmation number can help you get your money back, so keep them.

If the seller doesn’t respond, or the “store” has vanished, move to the next step: dispute the charge.

How do you dispute a charge?

This is where paying by credit card pays off. The FTC says that if you’re charged twice, billed for something you never got, or receive a wrong or damaged item, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company. Call the number on the back of your card and explain what happened.

If you paid another way:

  • Debit card or bank transfer: call your bank right away.
  • Payment app: report it in the app and ask for a reversal. See Zelle and payment app scams.
  • Gift card: call the gift card company immediately and keep the card and receipt.

Then report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you entered your card number on a fake site, our first-hour checklist after a scam and our guide to credit and debit card scams explain what to do next. To report the fake store itself, see how to report a scam website. For more on look-alike sites, see phishing emails and fake websites.

Red flags: how to spot this scam

  1. A social media ad offers brand-name products at unusually low prices and links to a site you've never heard of.
  2. The seller only accepts gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or cryptocurrency.
  3. A text says your package is held up and asks you to tap a link or pay a small fee.

What to do

  1. Before you buy, search the seller's name and web address with words like 'review,' 'complaint' or 'scam.'
  2. Pay by credit card when you can, so you can dispute a charge if something goes wrong.
  3. Keep your receipt and order confirmation number.
  4. Track packages yourself on the carrier's site or app — never through a link in a text.
  5. Report shopping scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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Where to report it

Reporting helps investigators spot patterns and warn others — even if you did not lose money. Type these addresses yourself or use the links below; do not use links from a suspicious message.

  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

    Any scam, fraud or bad business practice — calls, texts, emails, websites and impostors.

    ReportFraud.ftc.gov

  • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

    Online and computer-related fraud, including tech-support, romance, investment and crypto scams.

    IC3.gov

  • IdentityTheft.gov (FTC)

    If a scammer got your Social Security number, bank details or other personal information.

    IdentityTheft.gov

You can also report to your state attorney general. If you sent money, call your bank or card company right away using the number on the back of your card.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if an online store is fake?

Search the seller's name and the exact web address with words like 'review,' 'complaint' or 'scam.' Read the web address carefully, be wary of prices far below other stores, and walk away if the seller only takes gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or crypto.

Is it safe to buy from a social media ad?

Be careful. The FTC says scammers run ads on social media that impersonate real companies and offer brand-name products at unusually low prices. Check the company and the deal on its official site, which you type in yourself, before you buy.

What should I do if my order never arrives?

Contact the seller first. The FTC says sellers must ship by the time they or their ads promise, or give you the chance to cancel and get your money back. If that fails and you paid by credit card, dispute the charge with your card company.

Why pay by credit card?

The FTC says that if you're charged twice, billed for something you never got, or receive a wrong or damaged item, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company.

Sources

We rely on official government sources. Read how we check facts in our editorial policy.

  1. FTC consumer alert: How to avoid an online shopping scam this holiday season (Nov. 25, 2025) (consumer.ftc.gov, accessed )
  2. FTC: Online Shopping (consumer.ftc.gov, accessed )
  3. FTC Data Spotlight: Reported losses to scams on social media eight times higher than in 2020 (April 27, 2026) (ftc.gov, accessed )
  4. FTC consumer alert: Are ads on social media vetted or checked for scams? Here's what to know (Aug. 10, 2026) (consumer.ftc.gov, accessed )
  5. FTC Data Spotlight: Top text scams of 2024 (April 2025) (ftc.gov, accessed )
  6. FTC: Avoiding and Reporting Gift Card Scams (consumer.ftc.gov, accessed )

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