$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
holiday season giving scam
Scammers exploit the generosity of the holiday season with fake charitable appeals, pop-up organizations, and impersonation of well-known charities to steal donations.
“charity scam”
↑ 142%Key indicators
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers set up temporary organizations or impersonate real charities during the holiday giving season
2
They use phone calls, door-to-door visits, and social media campaigns to collect donations
3
After the holiday season, the fake organization disappears with the collected funds
What to do first
Take time to research any charity before donating, even during the holidays
Related terms
Christmas charity scamholiday donation fraudyear-end giving scamCharity scamsPhoneSurgingDonorsOlder adultsHoliday shoppersRetirees and seniorsNonprofit and charity workersImmigrants and visa holdersUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaChristmas charity scamholiday donation fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Michael, 35, a donors, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate charity scams situation while using Phone. Scammers set up temporary organizations or impersonate real charities during the holiday giving season
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They use phone calls, door-to-door visits, and social media campaigns to collect donations
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: After the holiday season, the fake organization disappears with the collected funds
The outcome
Michael realized something was wrong when charity only appears active during the holiday season and has no year-round presence. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Take time to research any charity before donating, even during the holidays Michael's experience shows why charity only appears active during the holiday season and has no year-round presence and caller demands an immediate donation and discourages you from researching the organization are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Charity only appears active during the holiday season and has no year-round presence
- Caller demands an immediate donation and discourages you from researching the organization
- Tax receipt is promised but never provided after donation
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Take time to research any charity before donating, even during the holidays
- ✓Give directly to established charities you know and trust rather than responding to unsolicited appeals
- ✓Report aggressive or suspicious holiday charity solicitations to the FTC
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The BBB warns that charity scams spike significantly during November and December when approximately one-third of all annual charitable giving occurs
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Take time to research any charity before donating, even during the holidays
- ✓Give directly to established charities you know and trust rather than responding to unsolicited appeals
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The BBB warns that charity scams spike significantly during November and December when approximately one-third of all annual charitable giving occurs
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Donors, Older adults, Holiday shoppers
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada
Primary channel
Phone — Charity scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Donors are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The BBB warns that charity scams spike significantly during November and December when approximately one-third of all annual charitable giving occurs
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about holiday season giving scam
How does the holiday season giving scam work?+
Scammers set up temporary organizations or impersonate real charities during the holiday giving season They use phone calls, door-to-door visits, and social media campaigns to collect donations After the holiday season, the fake organization disappears with the collected funds
What are the warning signs of holiday season giving scam?+
Charity only appears active during the holiday season and has no year-round presence Caller demands an immediate donation and discourages you from researching the organization Tax receipt is promised but never provided after donation
What should I do if I encounter holiday season giving scam?+
Take time to research any charity before donating, even during the holidays Give directly to established charities you know and trust rather than responding to unsolicited appeals Report aggressive or suspicious holiday charity solicitations to the FTC
Who is most at risk for holiday season giving scam?+
This scam primarily targets Donors, Older adults, Holiday shoppers. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and typically appears on Phone.
Is holiday season giving scam getting worse?+
holiday season giving scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.