It may be just a few days away from Christmas, which means those looking for last minute gifts may be more prone to scams as the clock runs out.

That's why the FBI Cleveland Field Office is warning against common scams you may come across.

According to the FBI, the two most prevalent holiday scams are non-delivery and non-payment crimes.

Non-delivery crimes involve sending  payment for a product but then never receiving it. Non-payment crimes involve shipping items but never getting payment.

Through October 15, 2023, IC3 has received over 40,000 complaints related to non-payment/non-delivery crimes, with losses of approximately $250 million.

In the 2022 annual report these numbers were 51,679 complaints with losses of $281 million.

"Criminals have adapted to the way we shop and continue to capitalize on our trust," said Gregory Nelsen, FBI Cleveland special agent in charge. "They are becoming more creative and offering payment forms such as cash, wire transfer, gift cards, and cryptocurrency. Sadly, this makes buying-and scamming, easy."

Some of the common holiday scams the FBI warns of are:

  • Online shopping scams - Scammers offer deals through phishing emails or advertisements.
  • Social media scams - Social media sites that appear to offer vouchers or gift cards. Often through surveys designed to steal personal information.
  • Smartphone app scams -  Mobile apps disguised as free games that steal personal information.
  • Work-from-home scams - Websites and social media posts that offer working from home. 
  • Gift card scams - Victims receive a spoofed email, call, or text asking them to purchase multiple gift cards for person or business reasons.
  • Charity scams - Criminals set up false charities and profit from individuals who believe they are donating to legitimate organizations.

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