Protecting yourself from fraud over the Christmas period
Samuel Birnie November 27th 2024 - 4 minute read

Keeping you and your money safe is our top priority, and we have stringent safeguarding measures in place to help protect all our customers. But there are also steps you need to take to protect yourself from fraud.
To help you identify potential scams and stay safe, we’re publishing a series of articles on fraud protection. This article looks at how to protect yourself from fraud over the Christmas period.
What scams should you look out for over Christmas?
The festive season is a prime time for scammers. Spending activity is up, consumers are often in a rush (especially as Christmas Day gets closer), and people are more willing to buy from new brands or suppliers to get that perfect gift.
Unfortunately, fraudsters try to take advantage of consumers over Christmas, using a wide variety of tactics to trick people out of their money and personal details. Some common Christmas scams include:
1. Fake online stores
Scammers set up convincing-looking websites or social media ads for popular holiday gifts at low prices. These sites may collect payments but never ship items, or they could deliver counterfeit goods. This is an example of shopping fraud.
2. Phishing emails and texts
Customers receive messages claiming issues with delivery or payment from well-known retailers, banks, or courier services. These phishing emails or texts often contain links to fake login pages to steal personal and banking details.
3. Gift card scams
Fraudsters trick victims into buying fake gift cards that don’t hold any value, or festive e-cards with malicious links that instal malware on the recipient’s device.
4. Charity scams
Around the holidays, scammers pose as charities or causes for the less fortunate, targeting people’s generosity. Fake charity emails and social media posts are designed to steal donations or personal data.
An example of a Christmas scam
Rachel always felt it was important to give back during the holidays, so when she received an email from a charity she’d heard of before, she was ready to donate.
The email featured heartwarming photos, urgent messaging about a holiday fundraising drive, and links to make a secure online donation. Wanting to help, Rachel clicked the link and entered her debit card details.
After the payment, she received a thank-you email from the ‘charity’. However, a few weeks later, Rachel noticed unusual charges on her bank statement. When she tried to track down the charity’s contact information, she realised the website and emails she’d interacted with were fake. A scammer had set up a website and email campaign that looked almost identical to a real charity, using Rachel’s kindness to steal her banking details.
Five tips for protecting yourself from Christmas fraud
1. Make sure you’re on a genuine website
First off, check that the website address begins with ‘https’. If so, this means that the site is secure and no one outside the site should be able to steal your details.
However, this does not mean the website is genuine or safe, just that it is secure from outside interference. You still need to check the URL and verify that the site is legitimate. Scammers use small variations to make a site appear genuine, such as companyname.com versus companynameshop.com.
Fake sites are usually accessed through links and adverts, so it’s best to navigate to the site by typing in the address manually. You can also use a trusted search engine and click the organic result – but be careful with sponsored results, as scammers can take out adverts on sites like Google.
If you’re unsure, err on the side of caution.
2. Be wary with discounts and limited offers
Watch out for too-good-to-be-true discounts and time-sensitive offers. Scammers use these techniques to entice and pressure people into making rushed decisions.
If a company or a person is trying to push you into acting fast, or lure you with a fantastic deal, then take that as a sign to stop and think things through.
This is particularly important over Christmas, as many of us are already feeling the pressure and juggling multiple things.
3. Use secure payment methods
When making any payments online, use secure payment methods that offer fraud protection, like a credit card or trusted payment platform. Avoid making payments by bank transfer unless you’re certain of the seller’s legitimacy, as transfers can be harder to trace and recover in cases of fraud.
Many banks and payment services also offer added protection, like temporary virtual cards or two-factor authentication, to keep your transactions safer. And always monitor your account for any unexpected charges, especially around the busy holiday season.
4. Be sceptical about unsolicited messages
Any time you’re contacted out of the blue by a company or organisation, you should be on your guard. This could be anything from an email about an order or a text from a courier to a phone call from your bank.
Scammers can ‘spoof’ phone numbers and emails to make it look like you’re being contacted by a legitimate organisation.
In these situations, it’s best to get the person contacting you to verify their identity and their reason for contacting you immediately. A genuine caller will be happy to comply.
A good way to verify if a caller or message is genuine is to reach out to the company directly. Use contact details from their official website instead of relying on links or contact information provided in an unexpected message.
5. Think before giving out your personal data
Some companies will have legitimate reasons for taking your personal data, such as your name, address and bank details. However, be wary if anyone asks for information that they do not reasonably need.
There are also some details you should never disclose to anyone, even if that person is seemingly trustworthy (such as a representative from your bank or law enforcement). For instance, only scammers will ask for your password, an authentication code, your card PIN or an answer to a security question.
If someone targets you
If someone targets you for a scam, it’s important that you act quickly. If you’ve given out your bank or card details, get in touch with your provider straight away and let them know the details are compromised.
You’ll then need to report the incident to the relevant legal authority. In the UK, this is Action Fraud.
You should also contact any companies or organisations that are involved. For instance, if you’re contacted by someone pretending to be from your bank, get in touch with the bank and let them know someone is impersonating them.
More information on scams and fraud during Christmas
Some of the scams you might encounter over Christmas are types of fraud we’ve written about before. You can read the rest of our security and fraud guides for more tailored guidance on specific scams, such as identity theft, phishing, shopping fraud and impersonation fraud.
The independent charity Victim Support provides victims of fraud with specialist help. They also have useful resources and information on their website.
And as a Currencies Direct customer, you can always talk to us if you’re concerned about the security of your currency transfers. Whether you notice something suspicious or just want reassurance, we’re always happy to help.
Written by
Samuel Birnie