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Holiday Scam Alert, Part 2: When Giving Goes Sideways

Fake charities and phony delivery updates are on the rise — here’s how to keep your money, and your holiday spirit, safe. 

(Part 1 covered shopping and gift card scams — now we’re digging into the next wave of holiday tricks to watch for.) 

The holidays are a time for generosity, connection, and community — but they’re also peak season for scammers. As you donate to causes you care about and wait for those doorstep deliveries, cybercriminals are busy crafting clever ways to cash in on your goodwill and excitement. Here are two of the biggest scams we’re seeing right now — and how to avoid them. 

Fake or Spoofed Charity Solicitations 

When disaster strikes or the holidays roll around, charitable giving spikes — and scammers take advantage. They send emails, texts, or social media messages that look like they’re from real charities, sometimes even using nearly identical names or stolen logos. 

They’ll ask for “urgent” donations, often by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency — payment methods that are hard to trace and recover. 

UMe Pro Tips: 

  • Research before you give. Visit the charity’s website directly — don’t follow links from emails or posts. 
  • If something feels overly emotional or rushed, that’s a red flag. 

Phishing Emails and Fake Delivery Notifications 

Scammers know everyone’s waiting for a package this season. They send fake alerts pretending to be from USPS, UPS, FedEx, or Amazon — claiming your delivery is delayed or needs confirmation. The “tracking” link in these emails leads to phishing sites that steal your login credentials or payment info. 

UMe Pro Tips: 

  • Always track packages by visiting the carrier’s website directly — never from a text or email link. 
  • If an email feels off, check the sender’s address carefully. A real company email won’t come from a free account or misspelled domain. 
  • And remember: legitimate delivery companies will never ask for payment info just to release a package. 

The Bottom Line: Your holiday spirit is priceless — don’t let scammers dim it! Whether you’re shopping online, donating to a good cause, or tracking that special delivery, take a second to double-check before you click. UMe’s here to help our Burbank comm-U-nity stay safe, smart, and scam-free this season and beyond — because U matter to Me (to all of us) at UMe! 

Source: This post was created with insights from the Better Business Bureau, FTC Consumer Alerts, and Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). 

Disclaimer: U matter to Me (to all of us) at UMe — and that’s why we do our best to deliver helpful information on our blog. Please note the following: (1) UMe Credit Union works hard to make certain that the information we post here is as accurate as humanly possible. But as you know, information can change and evolve quickly. While we try to update the blog on a regular basis, the content of some older posts may not be correct or up-to-date. (2) Some destinations on the World Wide Web that we link you to will exist on external websites. UMe Credit Union does not officially endorse any connected sites, nor do/did we compensate or get compensated by any entities to be featured in our posts (unless otherwise noted). (3) Everyone’s situation is unique and we advise you to consult with our personal bankers or your finance, tax, or legal professional for advice individualized to you!