The winter holidays will soon be upon us, filled with Thanksgiving turkey, December parties, and holiday gift-giving. And yet, as we savor our pumpkin pie and plan our Black Friday shopping lists, scammers are also looking forward to increased opportunities to cheat us out of our hard-earned money and spoil our holiday cheer.

According to the AARP Fraud Watch Network, the number of scams increases during the November and December holidays. As more people are shopping online or giving to charities, there are more opportunities for scammers. While there are many different types of scams, there are some easy ways to protect ourselves. We can all stop, think, and investigate texts, emails, or offers that just don’t seem right. 

Phony package delivery texts are a common type of scam. These texts ask us to click on a provided link to provide more information about our package. AARP recommends never clicking the included link from a random text or email. Scammers are hoping to gain personal information or trick us into paying fake fees. Instead, we can contact the retailer directly if we are concerned about a package. Using tracking numbers for any packages is another way to monitor the delivery process. 

Holiday season is also a time when many of us tend to give more to charities and when fake charities are eager to take our money. AARP suggests never giving personal or banking information over the phone. Take the time to research the charity on sites like give.org or CharityWatch.org to make sure the charity is real. Being asked to donate with prepaid gift cards is another good clue that something is amiss. 

A good way to stay informed about how to protect ourselves from scammers is to join “Fraud Watch with Pam and Phil”, a free, monthly virtual scam awareness series sponsored by AARP Maine. Each 30-minute program focuses on different topics such as cybersecurity, types of scams, and tips to avoid scammers.   

Scammers may be smart or clever, but we can help prevent scams by paying attention, avoiding the temptation of responding to unknown texts or emails, protecting our personal data, researching charities, and staying informed. Remember, “If you can spot a scam, you can help stop a scam.”  

Happy Thanksgiving and as always, check out the AARP website for an event near you, including “Fraud Watch with Phil and Pam.” 

Joyce Bucciantini is a retired middle school educator. She currently coordinates Delta Kappa Gamma’s Read to Me program, is a tutor with Literacy Volunteers-Androscoggin, and is an active AARP Maine volunteer. She enjoys her gardens, being outdoors and traveling.