Holiday shopping brings more online orders, more delivery texts and more deals that look too good to be true, and scammers plan for it. This guide sums up what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) tells shoppers: the warning signs, how to pay so you can get your money back, and where to report a scam. General information only, not legal advice. Facts checked November 9, 2026.
The five scams to watch for this season
| Scam | What it looks like | The warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Fake delivery text | A text or email says a package could not be delivered and asks you to click a link to reschedule or pay a small fee. | A link you did not expect. Track packages only from the store's or carrier's own app or site. |
| Fake online store | A shop you found through an ad or social media, with very low prices on popular gifts. The item never arrives, or something cheap does. | Prices far below other stores, a seller you never heard of, no reviews or only complaints. |
| Gift card payment | Someone asks you to pay for something, or to pay off a "problem", with gift cards and to read them the numbers on the back. | Any request to pay with a gift card. No real business or government agency asks for that. |
| Imposter call or message | Someone says they are your bank, a store, a delivery company or a government agency and says there is a problem with your account or order. | Pressure to act right now, and a request for a code, a password or a payment. |
| Wire, payment app or crypto demand | A seller on a marketplace asks you to pay by wire transfer, a payment app or cryptocurrency, often to "hold" a hard-to-find item. | Payment methods that are hard to reverse. Once the money is sent, it is very hard to get back. |
Fake package delivery problems were the text scam people reported most often to the FTC in 2024, and people reported losing $470 million to text message scams that year (FTC, April 2025).
Gift cards are for gifts, not for payments
The FTC is direct about this: "Only scammers will tell you to buy a gift card … and give them the numbers off the back of the card. No matter what they say, that's a scam." And: "No real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them" (FTC). If you already paid a scammer with a gift card, contact the company that issued the card right away, tell them the card was used in a scam, and ask if they can refund your money. Keep the card and the receipt.
When you buy gift cards as presents, buy them from stores you trust, check that the package has not been opened or the PIN scratched, and keep the receipt.
How to shop safely online
- Check the seller. Search the store's name with words like "review", "complaint" or "scam" before you buy from a shop you do not know.
- Do not click links in unexpected texts or emails, even if they seem to come from a company you know. Go to the company's website or app yourself, or call a number you know is real.
- Pay with a credit card when you can. Credit cards give you the right to dispute a charge for something you did not receive or that is not what was described.
- Be careful with payment apps, wire transfers and crypto when you buy from people or sellers you do not know: these payments are hard to get back.
- Keep records: the order confirmation, the item description and price, and any messages with the seller.
These steps follow the FTC's holiday shopping alert and its advice on how to avoid a scam.
If your order is late or never arrives
Under the FTC's Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule, a seller must ship within the time it states. If it does not state a time, it must ship within 30 days. If it cannot ship on time, it must tell you and either get your consent to the delay or give you a prompt refund (FTC business guide). First contact the seller. If that does not work, dispute the charge with your card company and explain what happened (FTC: disputing charges).
Where to report a scam
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov: report any scam, even if you did not lose money. Reports help the FTC and law enforcement spot and stop scams.
- Copy a scam text and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages (FTC).
- If someone got your personal information, such as your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan, and see our credit freeze guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is a text about a missed package delivery a scam?
It may be. Real carriers do send delivery texts, but scammers copy them. Do not click the link. Open the carrier's or store's app or website yourself and check your tracking number there.
Someone asked me to pay with a gift card. What should I do?
Do not pay. The FTC says anyone who tells you to pay with a gift card is a scammer. If you already paid, contact the company that issued the card right away and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Why pay with a credit card instead of a debit card or a payment app?
Credit cards give you dispute rights: you can ask the card company to remove a charge for an item you did not receive or that was not as described. Money sent by wire, payment app or crypto is much harder to get back.
How long does an online store have to ship my order?
Under the FTC's mail order rule, the time the seller states, or 30 days if it states no time. If it cannot ship on time, it must tell you and offer you the choice to cancel for a refund.
Where do I report an online shopping scam?
At ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Also tell your card company or bank right away if you paid, and forward scam texts to 7726.