When you have so many gifts to buy, you\u2019ll want to look for bargains. However, make sure that the discounts you\u2019re offered are legitimate. Scammers often lure buyers with massive discounts, especially on popular and sold-out items, often using fake websites or social media ads. If you think, \u201cthis deal is too good to be true,\u201d listen to your gut. It\u2019s likely a scam.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfd8\ufe0f Support journalism rooted in community<\/strong><\/p>\n Your donation helps us tell the full story of Tarrant County by uplifting every voice and connecting neighbors through shared understanding. With your help, we can reach our $400,000 goal and ensure community-focused reporting thrives into 2026.<\/p>\n Shop with trusted retailers\u00a0<\/strong> Be especially cautious when making purchases from social media marketplaces. Always verify the product exists before purchasing and use payments with purchase protections, like a credit card, to pay.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gift card scams typically begin with outreach from a scammer, often pretending to be someone else, who urgently pressures victims into buying specific gift cards and sharing the card numbers and PINs. Scammers use various stories, such as pretending to be government officials, tech support, friends or family in emergencies, prize promoters, utility companies, or online romantic interests. Remember: Legitimate organizations will never demand payment by gift card, and requests for gift card payments are a sign of a scam.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n How you pay matters\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Not all payment methods offer purchase protection. When buying gifts for the holiday season, consider using your debit and credit cards, as they may provide protections that allow you to dispute a charge if you don\u2019t receive what you paid for or it\u2019s not as you expected. If you purchase something using payment methods like Zelle\u00ae, wire transfers, gift cards, or cash, and it turns out to be a scam, it\u2019s unlikely you\u2019ll get your money back. Only use Zelle\u00ae to pay others you know and trust.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Seek out free resources\u00a0<\/strong> To learn more about how to help protect yourself from scams this holiday season, visit For informational\/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice\/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and\/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.\u00a0Deposit and credit card products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a9 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4.png\")
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When shopping online or on social media, make sure to only buy from trusted websites and
vendors. Review the website\u2019s URL and ensure that it starts with \u201chttps:\/\/\u201d (the \u2018s\u2019 stands for secure) as scammers can create fake websites to look like legitimate retailers. If you\u2019re
unfamiliar with a store, search for the name with terms like \u201cscam,\u201d \u201ccomplaints,\u201d or \u201creviews\u201d to uncover any red flags.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Give yourself peace of mind while shopping by using digital tools to monitor your personal
information. For example, Chase Credit Journey\u00ae offers free credit and identity monitoring. This includes alerts to let you know if your data is exposed in a data breach or on the dark web. You don\u2019t have to be a Chase customer use it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chase.com\/Security.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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