SECURITY CENTER

Scam Watch: How to spot fraud and scams

Scammers may be sophisticated, but working together, we can help stay ahead of them.

For most of us, the holidays are a time for giving, but for scammers it’s the season for taking.

Scammers post fake ads on social media

These scams happen year-round, but they spike during the holidays. Scammers post fake ads for popular items and link to websites designed to steal your payment information and your identity.

I had no present and an unhappy daughter

I wanted to surprise my daughter for the holidays with a handbag she’d been eyeing. I must’ve been tracked by cookies because an ad popped up on my social media feed for the exact bag — 30% off as part of a “Holiday Sale.”

The site looked just like the one I’d visited the week before, so I bought the purse with my credit card.

Hours later, my bank contacted me to ask if I’d made some large charges, which I hadn’t. They canceled my card and sent me a new one, but the bag never arrived.

The website I bought from had been cloned by a scammer and made to look just like the real one. I had to find a different gift to give my daughter.

I wish I’d known:

Scammers run professional-looking ads, especially around the holidays.
Fake websites often mimic real retailers but use slightly altered URLs. I should’ve made sure I was on the brand’s official website.
“Limited-time sales” and low prices are common fraud tactics.
If it feels too good to be true, it most likely is.

This time of year, many holiday getaways aren’t what they seem

Scammers can clone websites and advertise great deals to pull you in. They mimic big travel brands, promoting genuine-looking trips and accommodations.

This holiday rental left us out in the cold, literally

I found a beautiful cabin online with a last minute holiday offer. It had snow-covered trees, a stone fireplace, everything we wanted.

I contacted the owner through the rental site and he followed up by calling me. He asked me for a deposit and to text him photos of my ID and credit card. So I did.

When we arrived, someone else was already staying there. The actual owner told me his listing had been cloned by scammers.

Soon after, I started receiving notices about unpaid credit cards and a car loan I never opened. The scammer had used my info to steal my identity. What should have been a cozy holiday became a full-blown identity theft horror show.

I wish I’d known:

Real listings can be copied by scammers posing as owners.
Communicating via personal text or email — instead of through a trusted rental platform — is a red flag.
Asking for personal documents or an ID upfront should raise suspicion.
“Holiday discount” urgency is a tactic to pressure you into acting quickly.

Gift cards are for presents, not for emergencies or to pay someone

Scammers use fake ads, websites, apps — and even AI-generated calls or texts — to impersonate loved ones. Their goal? To trick you into buying gift cards and sending the codes. Once the code is shared, the money is gone.

I’ll always question if I’m talking to who I think I am

I got a text from an unknown number. It was my sister saying her purse had been stolen out of her car, along with her phone and credit cards. She said she was at a phone store and borrowed the rep’s phone to text me.

He’d told her that without a credit card, the only thing they’d accept was one of their gift cards.

She asked me to buy a gift card from the store’s website. I didn’t think twice. It all made perfect sense — how else would you buy a new phone if your credit cards just got stolen? I bought a $900 card and sent her the gift card number and code. Then, nothing.

I called her and she picked up. She was completely unaware of what had happened.

I’d been scammed. They used my love and concern for her to trick me. I’ll never forget how that felt.

I wish I’d known:

If someone asks for gift cards for an emergency, it’s almost certainly a scam.
Always verify unexpected requests from friends or family by calling or video chatting using a known number.
Scammers use emotional pressure and timing to cloud your judgment.
Don’t trust tone or familiarity — texts and even voices can be faked.

More latest scams

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When in doubt, don't engage — it may be fraud or a scam. Instead, call us using the number on the back of your card or stop by any Chase branch.

SECURITY CENTER Scam Watch: How to spot fraud and scams

For most of us, the holidays are a time for giving, but for scammers it’s the season for taking.

Scammers post fake ads on social media

I had no present and an unhappy daughter

I wish I’d known:

This time of year, many holiday getaways aren’t what they seem

This holiday rental left us out in the cold, literally

I wish I’d known:

Gift cards are for presents, not for emergencies or to pay someone

I’ll always question if I’m talking to who I think I am

I wish I’d known:

Explore the Chase Security Center

We’re always here to help

SECURITY CENTER

Scam Watch: How to spot fraud and scams