Scams have become an all-too-familiar nuisance in everyday life. From phishing emails impersonating government officials to robocalls threatening financial doom, it seems criminals are constantly finding new ways to target unsuspecting individuals. The holiday season, often associated with goodwill and generosity, unfortunately becomes prime time for these bad actors to ramp up their schemes. According to a recent report from the AARP Fraud Watch Network, fraudsters are working overtime to steal more than just holiday cheer during this festive time of year.
The report, based on a survey of nearly 1,900 U.S. consumers aged 18 and older, reveals the staggering prevalence of holiday-related scams. An alarming 82 percent of respondents reported experiencing or being targeted by at least one form of fraud in the past year. This includes everything from fake charity solicitations and online shopping scams to phony delivery notifications. Older adults, often perceived as more vulnerable, were similarly targeted, with roughly 80 percent reporting an encounter with fraud during the last holiday season.
Adding to the grim picture, the survey included a fraud knowledge quiz where respondents fared poorly. Only 28 percent of participants managed to correctly answer seven or more out of 10 true-or-false questions, highlighting a significant gap in public awareness about how to spot and avoid scams. AARP’s director of fraud prevention programs, Kathy Stokes, emphasized two concerning trends: fraud remains rampant, and the public’s ability to protect themselves isn’t improving. The data underscores the need for greater consumer education and more robust measures to combat fraud.
Key findings from the survey paint a vivid picture of the many ways scammers are infiltrating daily life. Over half of respondents reported receiving fraudulent notifications claiming to be from delivery services like FedEx or UPS, a significant jump from 29 percent in 2022. A quarter of participants had packages stolen from outside their homes, and more than a third encountered scams tied to online shopping or fake donation requests. Travelers weren’t spared either, with 12 percent falling victim to fraud while booking trips. Gift cards, a popular holiday item, also proved a prime target, with nearly 30 percent of respondents saying they had given or received a card with no value—a scam often linked to card tampering or digital theft.
The findings make it clear that consumers feel lawmakers aren’t doing enough to protect them. A resounding 90 percent of respondents agreed that legislative action is necessary to curb the rising tide of fraud. Stokes pointed to gift card scams as a particularly troubling trend, explaining that criminals are increasingly using both low-tech and high-tech methods to manipulate or drain gift card balances. As the holiday season approaches, the survey serves as a stark reminder for consumers to stay vigilant, double-check suspicious messages, and take extra precautions to protect themselves from falling victim to these pervasive scams.
