The text message looks ordinary. It says a package could not be delivered because of an incomplete address, and it includes a link to “reschedule.” In November and December, when many families are ordering gifts online and waiting on several deliveries at once, a message like that does not seem strange at all. That is exactly why it works.
Consider a hypothetical mother in Silver Spring who is juggling work, school pickups, and holiday shopping. She is expecting three packages, so she taps the link without thinking twice. The page asks for a small “redelivery fee” and her card number. It looks official. Only later does she realize that no real carrier sent that message, and now someone else has her card details.
Scams are not a sign that someone is foolish. They are designed by people who study how busy, caring, trusting people behave, and they adjust their tricks to the season. The holidays bring more shopping, more travel, more charity requests, and more family emotion, which means more openings for fraud. The goal of this guide is to help families build a few simple habits, together, so a single moment of hurry does not turn into a costly mistake.
Why the Holiday Season Is a Busy Time for Scammers
Scammers go where attention is stretched thin. During the holidays, people are receiving more packages, more shipping updates, more sales emails, and more messages from organizations asking for donations. When your inbox and phone are already full of legitimate messages, a fake one blends in easily.
Emotion plays a role as well. This is a season of generosity and family connection. Scams that pretend to be a charity, a relative in trouble, or a once-a-year deal are built to make you act out of kindness or excitement before you have time to think. Urgency is the common thread: pay now, click now, act before the offer expires.
Understanding this pattern is the first line of defense. If a message pushes you to act immediately, that pressure is itself a warning sign. Real companies, real government agencies, and real family members can almost always wait the few minutes it takes for you to check.
The Most Common Tricks to Watch For
Fake delivery notices are one of the most familiar. They arrive by text or email, mention a missed delivery or a fee, and include a link. Instead of tapping it, open the shipping company’s app or type its website address yourself, then enter the tracking number from your original order confirmation.
Fake online stores are another. They may appear in social media ads or search results with prices that seem too good to be true, and sometimes they are. Before buying from an unfamiliar site, look up the store’s name along with words like “reviews” or “scam,” check that you can find real contact information, and pay with a credit card, which generally offers stronger protections for disputes than a debit card or a bank transfer.
Gift card payment demands are a clear red flag. According to the Federal Trade Commission, anyone who insists that you pay them with a gift card is a scammer. Legitimate businesses and government agencies do not ask for payment that way. The same caution applies to demands for payment by wire transfer, payment apps sent to strangers, or cryptocurrency.
When the Voice on the Phone Sounds Like Family
One of the most painful scams targets grandparents and parents. A caller claims to be a grandchild, niece, or son who is in trouble, perhaps in an accident or arrested while traveling, and begs for money right away and for secrecy. Sometimes a second person joins, claiming to be a lawyer or police officer.
The Federal Trade Commission has warned that scammers can use artificial intelligence to imitate the voice of a loved one from short audio clips, such as videos posted online. That means a familiar-sounding voice is no longer proof that the caller is who they say they are.
The response is simple, even when the moment feels frightening. Hang up and call the family member directly at a number you already know. If you cannot reach them, call another relative who would know where they are. Never send money because of a single phone call, no matter how urgent it sounds.
Create a Family Code Word
One practical habit many families find reassuring is a private family code word. It is a word or phrase that only your household and close relatives know, and that is never posted online. If someone calls claiming to be a family member in an emergency, the person answering can ask for the code word.
Choose something memorable but not guessable from social media, so avoid pet names, street names, or birthdays. Share it in person or by phone, not in a group chat that might be forwarded. Make sure older relatives, including grandparents who may live in another state or another country, know the word and understand when to use it.
This conversation is a natural one to have during holiday gatherings, when several generations are in the same room. It takes five minutes, and it can give everyone, especially elders who live alone, a calm, clear plan instead of panic.
Talking With Teens, Elders, and Everyone in Between
Scams do not only target older adults. Teens and young adults can encounter fake job offers, gaming scams, fake ticket sales, and messages on social media from accounts pretending to be friends. Talk with them about the same principle that protects grandparents: if someone you do not know, or an account that seems slightly off, asks for money, passwords, or verification codes, stop and check.
Verification codes deserve special attention. A one-time code sent to your phone is meant only for you. If anyone asks you to read or forward that code to them, even someone claiming to be from your bank or a friend who “got locked out,” it is almost certainly an attempt to take over your account.
For elders, especially those who are newer to smartphones or who are more comfortable in a language other than English, patient practice helps. Sit together and look at a few examples of suspicious texts. Show them how to block a number and how to delete a message without opening the link. Respect their independence, and offer to be the person they can call anytime something feels wrong. Families who speak Amharic, French, Spanish, or other languages at home can talk through these warning signs in the language each relative is most comfortable using.
What to Do If Someone Gets Scammed
If someone in the family does fall for a scam, the first thing they need is support, not blame. Shame often keeps people from reporting fraud quickly, and speed matters. Reassure them that this happens to careful, intelligent people every day.
Then act quickly:
- Contact the bank or card company right away using the number on the back of the card, and explain what happened.
- If you paid with a gift card, contact the company that issued the card and tell them it was used in a scam.
- Change passwords for any account that may be affected, and turn on two-step verification where it is available.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- If personal information such as a Social Security number was shared, visit IdentityTheft.gov for steps to take.
Forwarding scam text messages to 7726, which spells SPAM, lets many mobile carriers know about them. Keep notes, screenshots, and receipts, since these can help when you dispute a charge. For questions about a specific financial loss, a bank representative or a qualified consumer attorney can explain your options.
A Simple Pause Rule for the Whole Household
The habit that protects families most is not technical. It is a pause. Before clicking a link, sending money, or sharing personal information, every member of the family can ask three questions: Did I expect this message? Is someone rushing me? Can I check this another way?
If the answer raises any doubt, close the message and go directly to the source, by opening the official app, typing the company’s website yourself, or calling a number you already trust. That one extra step stops a large share of scams before they start.
Make the pause rule a household norm, the same way you teach children to look both ways before crossing the street. When everyone in the family knows it is okay, and even expected, to slow down and double-check, nobody has to feel embarrassed for asking, “Is this real?”
One Next Step: At your next family meal or video call, choose a private family code word, share it with every relative who might receive an “emergency” call, and agree that no one will ever send money without first calling back on a known number.
Akukulu Family encourages families to protect one another this season with patience, open conversation, and a few shared habits. Scammers count on hurry and silence. Families who talk with each other, check before they click, and support anyone who gets fooled are far harder to target. Enjoy the holidays, shop with care, and keep looking out for your elders and your young people alike.
Source for verification: Federal Trade Commission, How To Avoid a Scam: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam
