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Top 10 holiday scams to watch out for this festive season
23 December 2025
As Australians gear up for the festive season, Westpac is urging shoppers to stay alert to scams that spike during December. With online shopping, gift-giving and charitable donations at an all-time high, scammers are working overtime to exploit the holiday rush.
The top 10 holiday scams include:
- Social media shopping ads. Fake ads on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok promoting exclusive discounts that lead to counterfeit goods or phishing sites.
- Fake (ghost) online stores. Professional-looking websites offering too good to be true deals on electronics, toys and luxury goods. Victims pay but never receive their items.
- Delivery notification scams. Texts or emails claiming your parcel is delayed or requires a fee. Clicking the link can install malware or steal payment details.
- Gift card payment scams. Scammers impersonate government agencies or utility companies, demanding payment via gift cards. No legitimate business accepts gift cards as payment.
- Family impersonation scams. Criminals use AI voice cloning or hacked accounts to pose as relatives in distress, asking for urgent money transfers.
- Travel scams. Bogus holiday rentals and fake airline refund emails trick holidaymakers into paying deposits for non-existent bookings.
- Phishing emails and texts. Messages impersonating banks, retailers or delivery companies urging you to act now to avoid account suspension or delivery delays.
- Charity and crowdfunding scams. Fake charities and donation pages prey on generosity during the season of giving. Always verify before donating.
- Seasonal job scams. Fake job listings for holiday work that request upfront fees or personal details.
- QR code scams. Malicious QR codes in fake promotional materials that install malware when scanned.
Speaking about these scams, Westpac Head of Fraud Prevention, Ben Young says: “Scammers are showing no signs of slowing down as we head into the holidays. From social media scams and ghost websites to impersonation tactics and emotional manipulation, they continue to push boundaries in their attempts to steal from hardworking Australians.”
“At this time of year we expect to see a surge in scams that pair enticing shopping deals with high-pressure payment demands, as well as fake delivery alerts and charity appeals. These are classic red flags and I urge everyone to stay alert and question anything that feels off.”
Tips for people to avoid these scams:
- Don’t pay under pressure. No legitimate business or charity will demand immediate payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfer.
- Verify before you click. Go directly to official websites or apps instead of using ‘shop here’ buttons on social media or links in emails or texts.
- Check URLs carefully. Look for subtle misspellings or unusual domain endings.
- Research charities. Do your research to confirm if a charity if legitimate before donating.
- Act fast if something feels off. If you notice unusual transactions or think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately.
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