{"id":96222,"date":"2025-12-01T10:08:50","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T15:08:50","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-12-11T09:56:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T14:56:12","slug":"tis-the-season-to-be-vigilant-how-to-spot-holiday-scams","status":"publish","type":"rbc_my_money_matter","link":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/cyber-security\/understanding-cyber-security\/tis-the-season-to-be-vigilant-how-to-spot-holiday-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"Tis the Season to be Vigilant: How to Spot Holiday Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block  pos-rel\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\n<p>For many, the holidays are a joyful time. They\u2019re a chance to connect with loved ones, take time off work, and even open up a gift or two. However, it\u2019s also the time of year when online scams spike. So, between rotating holiday hits and checking your list (twice), it\u2019s a good idea to stay alert to anyone looking to turn the season of giving into a season of taking.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-online-fraud-increases-during-the-holiday-season\">Why online fraud increases during the holiday season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Why the surge during this time of year? Here are a few key reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc mar-l mob-mar-l\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p><strong>People are spending more:<\/strong> Economic activity tends to go up during the months of November and December \u2013 from buying gifts for loved ones to booking travel to charity donations.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p><strong>More stress and distractions: <\/strong>The holidays can be a stressful time for many, as they are wrapping up work, making travel plans, and buying last-minute gifts. This kind of frenzy makes people more distracted and less vigilant.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p><strong>The spirit of giving:<\/strong> The holidays are synonymous with generosity, and many feel inspired to give back. This means an increase in charitable donations and a general desire to help others.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Scammers are aware of these holiday trends and see an opportunity to take advantage. Moreover, digital communications from legitimate retailers soar during the holidays, making it easier for scammers to blend in amongst the barrage of messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-role-of-artificial-intelligence-ai\">The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>AI is having a profound effect on society \u2013 including the efficiency of online scams. Scammers are increasingly making use of AI to help them reach their goals, using the technology to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc mar-l mob-mar-l\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Help write email and text message scams that are hyper-convincing, often matching the brand\u2019s style and tone.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Make use of publicly available data (such as social media accounts) to create personalized messages, further boosting their believability.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Use voice cloning and deepfake videos to impersonate loved ones, business executives, or public figures.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As scammers leverage AI to create online scams that are increasingly believable and hard to spot, it\u2019s important to be vigilant, especially at this time of year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-five-holiday-scams-to-watch-out-for\">Five holiday scams to watch out for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Holiday scams are nothing new, but they remain effective year after year. Here are five online scams that tend to pop up during the holidays:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fake-charities\">Fake charities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How it works:<\/strong> Scammers exploit the holiday spirit by asking for donations that tug on the heartstrings. They may impersonate real charities or pretend to be a charity that doesn\u2019t exist, often using emotional stories or images tied to recent conflicts or disasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to protect yourself:<\/strong> It\u2019s best to do your own research to confirm it\u2019s a registered charity. If you\u2019re inclined to give, look up the charity, visit its website, and check for anything that looks off. Lean towards secure payment methods \u2013 like cheque or credit card \u2013 and be wary of messages that create a sense of urgency. When in doubt, you can also check whether the charity exists on other established charity management and fundraising platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-online-order-phishing-emails-and-texts\">Online order phishing emails and texts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How it works:<\/strong> Have you ever received a suspicious text message or email asking you to click a link to confirm payment or delivery from a shipping company? This is a common <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/cyber-security\/cyber-security-for-business\/how-a-simple-text-message-can-lead-to-fraud\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-96222-bb6876d3\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"phishing\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">phishing<\/a> tactic. Clicking the link can sometimes install malware on your device or prompt you to disclose personal information. As scammers know that many people are waiting for deliveries over the holidays, this can be an extremely effective tactic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to protect yourself:<\/strong> The goal of these messages is to convince you that they\u2019re coming from a reputable organization. But take a close look at who it\u2019s <em>really<\/em> coming from and note the URL it\u2019s asking you to click. These text messages will often come from an overly long phone number, sometimes coupled with an unfamiliar area code. Spelling errors and shortened URLs are also red flags. If you want to securely check on the status of a delivery, always go to the official website of the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-romance-scams\">Romance scams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How it works:<\/strong> Let\u2019s face it. The holidays can be a lonely time, and some people may be looking for love. But it\u2019s worth being careful where you look. Scammers often create fake dating profiles to lure in lonely, unsuspecting singles, starting with affectionate messages to build trust. Once that trust is established, they invent a holiday-related \u201cemergency\u201d and ask for money. After the transfer is made, they disappear \u2013 along with your funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to protect yourself:<\/strong> It\u2019s wise to stay a little skeptical of online relationships, especially if you\u2019ve never met in-person. Avoid sending money or sharing personal information with someone you only know online, no matter how genuine their messages may seem. Any monetary request via cryptocurrency is a major red flag, as that type of transfer is difficult to trace. If something feels off, do a quick search to see what kind of internet presence the person has \u2013 or doesn\u2019t have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fake-websites-and-counterfeit-goods\">Fake websites and counterfeit goods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How it works:<\/strong> Scammers have become quite sophisticated at creating fake websites that impersonate real brands. With the help of AI, these sites look increasingly authentic \u2013 from logos to product listings. Their goal is to lure shoppers with too-good-to-be-true pricing, collect payment, and then disappear. In some cases, you may receive a cheap, counterfeit version of the good you ordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to protect yourself:<\/strong> Be as observant as possible when on the website. Look for misspelled words, poor grammar, and blurry images. A lack of contact information \u2013 or being unable to pay by credit card \u2013 is another warning sign. Always examine the URL for extra words or symbols. And remember: if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-gift-cards\">Gift cards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How it works:<\/strong> Fraudsters often tamper with physical gift cards at the store before they\u2019re even purchased by someone. They\u2019ll open the packaging, note the gift card number and PIN, then reseal them. Once the card is purchased and activated, the scammer drains the funds remotely before the buyer has the chance to use them. In other cases, scammers ask victims to pay with gift cards, since they\u2019re nearly impossible to trace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to protect yourself:<\/strong> Inspect gift cards carefully before buying, and, when possible, choose ones stored securely behind the counter. To avoid tampering altogether, opt for digital gift cards purchased directly from a retailer\u2019s website. Be cautious of anyone requesting payment by gift card \u2013 that\u2019s almost always a scam. Finally, beware of messaging claiming that you\u2019ve won a free gift card. These are often phishing attempts designed to install malware on your device or steal your personal information.&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The holiday season should be a time to unwind and celebrate with family and friends \u2013 not to worry about scams. By staying alert and trusting your instincts, you can keep the season joyful. If something doesn\u2019t feel right, it\u2019s worth taking a second look before you click and buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-callout-block section-inner callout-block campaign\"><div class=\"callout  horizontal\"><div class=\"callout-content\"><div class=\"callout-copy\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Stay informed about any new or ongoing scams by checking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbc.com\/cyber-security\/alerts\/index.html\" data-dig-id=\"LP-96222-a79482c3\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"RBC Scam Alerts\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">RBC Scam Alerts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-rbc-default-collapsible\"><p><button class=\"collapse-toggle collapsed\" data-target=\"#collapse834a1009\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse834a1009\" data-dig-id=\"LP-57738-834a1009\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"accordion closed\" action-closed=\"accordion closed\" action-opened=\"accordion open\" data-dig-label=\"Things our lawyers want you to know\"><span>Things our lawyers want you to know<\/span><span>Things our lawyers want you to know<\/span><\/button><\/p><div class=\"collapse-content collapse\" id=\"collapse834a1009\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-collapsible-inner-block collapse-inner\">\n<p>This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover why online scams surge during the holidays and learn what you can do to fend them off. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":319,"featured_media":96223,"parent":57322,"menu_order":0,"template":"wp-custom-template-mmm-sticky-nav","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[132,524,135],"rbc_content_type":[31],"rbc_audience":[261,110,231,59,39,300,93,49,61],"rbc_lob_group":[133],"rbc_difficulty_level":[33],"rbc_mmm_category":[321,376,304,375],"class_list":["post-96222","rbc_my_money_matter","type-rbc_my_money_matter","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-cyber-crime","tag-cyber-security","tag-cyber-tips","rbc_content_type-article","rbc_audience-black","rbc_audience-business-owners","rbc_audience-indigenous","rbc_audience-newcomer","rbc_audience-parents","rbc_audience-relationships","rbc_audience-seniors","rbc_audience-students","rbc_audience-youth","rbc_lob_group-cyber-security","rbc_difficulty_level-beginner","rbc_mmm_category-cyber-security","rbc_mmm_category-cyber-security-for-business","rbc_mmm_category-money-academy","rbc_mmm_category-understanding-cyber-safety"],"acf":{"contently_publication_id":"","custom_author":"Royal 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