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bbb's holiday hq

Don't let scams ruin the holidays

Learn how to protect your personal information, spot red flags, and shop confidently during the busiest time of year.

Stay safe this holiday season with BBB’s expert tips on avoiding common scams.

The holiday season is a prime time for scammers looking to take advantage of busy shoppers and businesses. From fake delivery texts to gift exchange schemes, it's important to stay vigilant. On this page, you'll find tips to help you avoid common holiday scams, protect your personal information, and keep your business safe during the busiest time of year. Let BBB guide you through staying secure this holiday season.

Featured articles

BBB's 12 scams of the holidays

With the year quickly winding down, Better Business Bureau has compiled our naughty list of the top 12 scams of Christmas. Be mindful of these scams that could cut into your holiday cheer.

Check out the top 12

Know the signs of a fake text delivery scam

Consumers get text messages stating that a major delivery carrier needs them to "update delivery preferences" on a package by clicking a link. The problem? The texts are scams, and the links result in the theft of personal information, money, or both.

5 ways to avoid fake text delivery scams

Going big with your holiday decorations? Don't fall for this scam

If you’re planning to get festive with your Halloween, Christmas, or other holiday decorations, keep your eyes open for a scam that uses false advertising and bogus products to steal shoppers' money. 

Holiday decoration scams

Holiday gifting scams

Beware of gift exchange schemes and too-good-to-be-true offers with our guide to common holiday gifting scams.

Looking for this season's hot toy? Beware of scams

Hot toys sell out fast and become expensive and hard to find. Don’t let scammers trick you into accidentally buying a fake (or non-existent) version of a popular toy.

How to avoid a hot toy scam

Online "Secret" gift exchanges may not be what they seem

A gift exchange among online friends may look like innocent fun, they are pyramid schemes and illegal.

"Secret sister" gift exchange schemes

Holiday job and business scams

Learn how to spot job scams and protect your business from fraud during the holiday rush.

How to spot and avoid job scams this holiday season

Retailers and shippers traditionally hire seasonal workers to fulfill holiday shoppers' demands. These jobs are a great way to make extra money. However, they are sometimes not all that they seem.

Tips to avoid holiday job scams

Holiday social media and web scams

Don’t get tricked by holiday surveys or social media giveaways that aim to steal your personal info.

Survey scam gets a holiday twist

Scoring a great deal this holiday season is exciting. Unfortunately, con artists are using that same feeling of excitement to lure shoppers into scams. 

Know the signs of a survey scam