The holiday shopping season is already knocking. Black Friday falls on November 27 this year, Cyber Monday follows on November 30, and many of us will be scrolling for deals, ordering gifts and watching for packages on the porch. Sadly, scammers are watching too.
The good news is that a few calm habits can protect your family’s money and peace of mind.
The scale of the problem
In testimony to Congress on March 25, 2026, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it received 3 million fraud reports from consumers in 2025, who reported losing $15.9 billion. That is up from about $12.5 billion the year before. And because many people never report being cheated, the real number is likely much higher.
Shopping is a big part of the story. In April 2026, the FTC reported that nearly 30 percent of people who lost money to a scam in 2025 said it started on social media, with reported losses of $2.1 billion. Shopping scams were the most reported type of social media scam, and more than 40 percent of people who lost money that way said they had ordered something they saw in a social media ad. Many ads led to unfamiliar websites or copycat sites posing as well-known brands with big discounts.
Five habits that protect your family
1. Slow down when a deal looks too good
Scammers count on excitement and hurry. Before you buy from a shop you have never used, the FTC suggests searching the seller’s name and the website address along with words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” A two-minute search can save a lot of heartache.
2. Pay in a way you can dispute
Both the FTC and the FBI encourage using a credit card when possible, because you can dispute the charge if you are billed for something you never get or receive the wrong or damaged item. The FTC warns that if a seller insists on a gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency, “it’s probably a scam.” The FBI also advises against paying sellers with prepaid gift cards and never wiring money directly to a seller.
3. Be careful with “missed delivery” texts
Around the holidays, fake shipping messages show up in a lot of inboxes and phones. They may say you missed a delivery or need to fix your address, often with a warning that your package will go back to the sender if you do not act right away. The FTC’s advice is simple: do not click links in messages about an unexpected delivery. Instead, check your order status on the store’s own website or app, or contact the shipping company using a phone number or website you already know is real.
4. Keep your receipts
Save order confirmations, receipts and tracking numbers in one email folder. The FTC notes that these records can help you get your money back, and that sellers must ship within the time they promise or offer you a refund.
5. Check the website before you type
The FBI recommends confirming that a site’s address uses “https” before entering payment information, and researching first-time sellers and their feedback ratings. If a company you already use asks you to update account details, look up its number yourself and call.
Make it a family conversation
Teens shop through social media ads, parents juggle dozens of orders, and grandparents may get official-looking texts. Take ten minutes this week to talk these habits through together, and agree on a family rule such as “If a message rushes you, show it to someone first.”
A kind check-in with older relatives is a real act of love. Let them know they can always call you before clicking or paying.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank or card company right away. In the U.S., you can report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and internet crimes to the FBI at ic3.gov. Readers in other countries can check with their national consumer protection agency.
Wise and gentle
Jesus gave His disciples a word that still fits our busy, connected world:
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
Matthew 10:16 (KJV)
We do not have to live in fear. We can stay generous and open-hearted while also being wise. Pausing before we click and looking out for one another is part of being good stewards of what God has given us, so more of it can go toward the gifts and kindness that make this season bright.
Through every storm, we rise together.
Have you or someone you love ever spotted a shopping or delivery scam, and what tipped you off?
Sources: Federal Trade Commission, “FTC Testifies before the Joint Economic Committee” (Mar 25, 2026); The Spokesman-Review (Detroit Free Press), “Americans lost a record $15.9 billion to scams in 2025, FTC says” (Apr 3, 2026); Federal Trade Commission, “New FTC Data Show People Have Lost Billions to Social Media Scams” (Apr 27, 2026); FTC Consumer Advice, “How to avoid an online shopping scam this holiday season” (Nov 25, 2025); FTC Consumer Advice, “Scammers are delivering phishing messages this holiday season” (Dec 2, 2024); FBI, “Holiday Scams” (undated); KJV Matthew 10:16
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