Shop Smart, Stay Safe This Holiday Season

Published on October 27, 2026 | 4 min read | Webster Bank

The holiday season brings plenty of reasons to shop, give and celebrate. It also brings more opportunities for scammers to catch us when we’re busy, distracted or looking for a great deal.

From convincing online stores and social media ads to fake delivery notices and urgent payment requests, scams can be difficult to spot. A few simple precautions can help protect your money and personal information while you shop this holiday season.

1. Make Sure the Store Is the Real Deal

A great price can be tempting, especially during the holidays. But scammers can create fake online stores and advertisements that look surprisingly convincing, including sites that imitate familiar retailers. It’s smart to research an unfamiliar seller before you buy and search for the seller’s name and website address along with terms such as “review,” “complaint” or “scam.”

Shop smarter:

• Go directly to a retailer’s website or app rather than relying on a link in an unexpected email, text or social media post.
• Double-check the website address for misspellings or subtle changes.
• Be skeptical of prices that seem too good to be true.
• Research unfamiliar sellers and read reviews from multiple sources.

2. Don’t Let a Delivery Text Rush You

With more packages arriving during the holidays, a message about a missed delivery can seem perfectly reasonable. That’s what makes these scams effective. Fraudulent texts and emails may claim that a package is delayed or that you need to provide information or make a payment.

Don’t let urgency push you into clicking. The FBI advises consumers not to click suspicious links or attachments, particularly when a message asks them to update account information.

Stay a step ahead:

• Don’t click an unexpected shipping link.
• Go directly to the retailer’s or delivery company’s official website or app to check your order.
• Be cautious if a message asks for personal or financial information.
• If you’re unsure, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is legitimate.

3. Think Twice About Social Media Deals

Your social feed may be filled with holiday gift ideas and limited-time offers. Unfortunately, scammers advertise there, too. The FTC warns that scammers may impersonate real companies and advertise brand-name merchandise at unusually low prices, then direct shoppers to fraudulent websites.

Before you buy:

• Don’t assume a sponsored ad or professional-looking post is legitimate.
• Visit the retailer’s website independently instead of purchasing through an unfamiliar link.
• Research the seller before entering payment information.
• Be cautious of countdown clocks and “today only” offers designed to make you act quickly.

4. Pay Attention to How You’re Asked to Pay

The payment method itself can be a warning sign. If a seller insists that you pay using a gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency, it’s probably a scam. The FTC recommends paying by credit card when possible because consumers have protections that may allow them to dispute certain charges.

Protect your purchase:

• Use a credit card when possible for online purchases.
• Never provide gift card numbers to someone who tells you they’re needed to make a payment or resolve an urgent problem.
• Be suspicious when you’re pressured to use an unusual payment method.
• Keep receipts and order confirmations in case you need to dispute a purchase.

5. Protect the Accounts You Use to Shop

Safe holiday shopping isn’t only about recognizing scams. It’s also about making it harder for someone to get into your accounts.

CISA recommends using strong passwords, keeping software up to date and enabling multifactor authentication when it’s available.

Strengthen your defenses:

• Use a strong, unique password for each important account.
• Turn on multifactor authentication for your banking, email and shopping accounts when available.
• Keep phones, tablets and computers updated.
• Set up account alerts and regularly review transactions for activity you don’t recognize.

Pause Before You Pay

Holiday scams often work by creating urgency: a deal that’s about to disappear, a package that supposedly can’t be delivered or a problem that needs to be fixed immediately.

If something doesn’t feel right, pause before you click, pay or provide information. Take a moment to verify the message, seller or request independently. That extra step could prevent a scam from turning into a financial headache.

If You Spot Suspicious Activity

If you notice an unfamiliar transaction or believe your account information may have been compromised, contact us right away. You should also contact your credit card company to report or dispute suspicious charges.

Shop, Give and Celebrate With Confidence

A little extra caution can go a long way during the busiest shopping season of the year. By slowing down, verifying before you act and keeping your accounts secure, you can spend less time worrying about scams and more time enjoying the holidays.