Holiday Scams Put Seniors at Risk: How to Shop Securely and Stay Safe Online
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November 11, 2025
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Key Findings
- Seniors lost $1.5 billion to fraud in the first half of 2025 alone. Though younger adults experience fraud at similar rates as older adults, victims aged 60+ reported higher median losses than younger adults.
- In the first half of 2025, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Arizona had the highest rates of fraud among adults aged 60 and above.
- 77% of seniors believe they can spot scams, yet 38% would click a fake “package delayed” text.
- Shopping scams dominate actual fraud incidents: Among seniors who’ve been scammed, 62% fell victim to online shopping scams—far outpacing delivery text scams (11%), gift card schemes (6%), or fake charities (2%).
- Many victims don’t report scams or fraud: Nearly one-quarter (23%) of senior scam victims didn’t report the incident to anyone, including police or even family members.
- Only 38% of seniors always use two-factor authentication, and 13% rarely or never use it, leaving their accounts vulnerable to hacking.
As the 2025 holiday season gets underway, more Americans than ever are shopping, donating, and celebrating online. But with that digital convenience comes a rising tide of deception.
Our new study of 2,411 U.S. adults (including 540 seniors) found that online shopping scams are the most feared and most common holiday fraud among older people. Although people of all ages have approximately the same chances of falling victim to fraud, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) data show that seniors typically lose more money to fraud. Scams targeting individuals over 60 are not only increasing in number but also becoming more difficult to detect.
In other words, this holiday season’s biggest risk isn’t just spam emails or suspicious links — it’s the growing sophistication of scams that look, sound, and feel real.
Online Shopping Scams Dominate Seniors’ Concerns in 2025
Holiday shopping is an online-first activity for most Americans, and scammers are taking full advantage. Fifty-eight percent of all adults, regardless of age, say they’re highly concerned about being scammed this season, and their top worries reflect the shifting digital landscape.
Top Concerns About Online Shopping Scams, By Age
| Which types of scams concern you the most during the holidays? Select all that apply. | 18-64 years | 65+ years | All adults |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fake online shopping sites | 58% | 59% | 58% |
| Delivery or “missed package” phishing scam messages | 52% | 57% | 53% |
| Fake charity donation appeals | 29% | 34% | 30% |
| Gift card payment or refund scams | 29% | 30% | 30% |
| None, scams do not concern me | 14% | 11% | 13% |
More than a third of older adults shop online at least once per week, and two-thirds say they’ll do most or all of their holiday shopping online this year. Though convenient, online shopping widens exposure to fake sellers and fraudulent payment systems.
Fake retail sites and “too good to be true” social media ads now rank as seniors’ most concerning scams, just ahead of delivery-text scams. By contrast, only a third worry about fake charity appeals or gift card scams.
What do online shopping scams look like? Fake storefronts often heavily advertise on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, utilizing stolen product images and fabricated reviews. Many mimic well-known retailers but use subtly altered URLs — a tactic that’s particularly effective among older users browsing on mobile devices.
Online Shopping Safety Tip: When shopping online, ensure that web addresses begin with “https,” which indicates a secure connection. Double-check the entire web address before purchase. Fake shopping websites can look exactly like the real thing, complete with product images, customer reviews, and a checkout page designed to steal your credit card information.
The Shipping-Text Hook: Old Tricks Still Work
Though an old-fashioned tactic, shipping-text scams remain a persistent hazard, especially during the holiday delivery rush. In April 2025, the Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer alert about the risk of unsolicited shipping notification texts.
Scammers impersonating shippers, such as USPS, UPS, and Amazon, are particularly common, often using messages that appear indistinguishable from legitimate delivery alerts. Once clicked, these links lead to credential-stealing websites or malware downloads that can harvest personal data.
Shipping-Text Engagement
| If you received a text message saying “Your package is delayed—click to reschedule delivery,” what would you most likely do? Select all that apply. | 18-64 years | 65+ years | All adults |
|---|---|---|---|
| Click the link to check the status | 45% | 38% | 43% |
| Delete or ignore the message | 26% | 25% | 26% |
| Contact the delivery company directly | 32% | 32% | 32% |
| Forward it to a friend for advice | 2% | 1% | 2% |
| Report the message to the FTC, USPS, or my mobile carrier | 7% | 4% | 6% |
| I’m not sure | 4% | 6% | 4% |
When survey respondents were asked how they would respond to a message reading “Your package is delayed—click to reschedule delivery,” 38 percent of people 65+ and 45 percent of people under 65 admitted they would click the link. This reflexive response, driven by familiarity and urgency, highlights how easily scammers exploit routine holiday habits and underscores that people of all ages are at risk for scams.
The survey also found that 76 percent of seniors have clicked a fake delivery link at least once. These interactions don’t always lead to immediate loss, but they expose users to long-term risks, such as identity theft and targeted phishing campaigns.
Online Safety Tip: If you have questions about the status of a shipment, visit the delivery carrier’s official website or app directly, rather than clicking on links in texts or emails. Report any unwanted messages directly in your texting app or forward them to your mobile carrier at 7726.
More Than One in Five Seniors Has Been Scammed
While the majority of older adults are vigilant online, fraud still touches millions of households. The survey found that 22 percent of older adults and 19 percent of younger adults have personally fallen victim to a digital scam, with online shopping fraud being the most common experience among them. Yet 23 percent of seniors never reported it, often due to embarrassment or uncertainty about the reporting process.
Online scam experiences among victims, by age
| Scam type | 18-64 year old victims | 65+ victims | All victims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online shopping scam | 57% | 62% | 58% |
| Shipping or delivery scam | 13% | 11% | 13% |
| Gift card scam | 10% | 6% | 9% |
| Charity scam | 5% | 2% | 4% |
| Other scam | 15% | 19% | 16% |
Online shopping scams dramatically outpace delivery text scams, gift card schemes, and fake charities. Phony e-commerce sites, counterfeit product listings, and fraudulent sellers cause six times more victimization than gift card scams.
More than one in five seniors report they have lost money or personal information to an online or phone scam at some point—similar to the rate for younger adults. However, when seniors do fall victim, the financial impact can be more severe given their accumulated savings and fixed incomes—making them particularly lucrative targets for scammers.
Online Safety Tip: If you have been a victim of fraud or scams, help is available. Reporting can br scary but can help you recover your losses. Visit FTC.gov/ReportFraud or call the AARP Fraud Watch Helpline (1-877-908-3360) to report scams and get support.
The Payment Safety Gap: Confidence vs. Behavior
When it comes to online safety, seniors express high confidence — but their actions sometimes tell a different story. Seventy-seven percent say they feel confident navigating the digital world, yet risky payment behaviors persist.
Most seniors understand basic cybersecurity principles — nearly all delete suspicious messages, and three-quarters verify charities before making a donation. However, at the same time, over half admit to occasionally clicking on delivery links, and 51 percent enter payment information on unfamiliar websites.
While 65 percent of older adults know that credit cards offer stronger fraud protections, many still rely on debit cards, bank transfers, or peer-to-peer apps when making online purchases, which offer limited recovery options in cases of fraud.
Respondents said they trust banks, family members, and AARP most for online safety guidance, suggesting that future prevention campaigns should emphasize personal and institutional communication over generic government advisories.
The FTC and major financial institutions have begun piloting outreach programs ahead of the 2025 holiday season, including in-app warnings and transaction holds for high-risk merchants — a move many experts say could dramatically reduce senior losses.
The Emotional Toll of Scams
Scammed seniors respond differently than younger victims: 80 percent report feeling angry (compared to 73 percent of younger adults), and 63 percent say they’ve become less trusting online (compared to 54 percent of those under 65). Notably, seniors are less likely to feel embarrassed than younger victims, suggesting they may view fraud as a criminal act against them rather than a personal failure.
| How did the experience of being scammed make you feel? Select all that apply. | 18-64 years | 65+ years | All victims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angry | 73% | 80% | 75% |
| Less trusting online | 54% | 63% | 56% |
| Embarrassed | 48% | 36% | 45% |
| Anxious | 35% | 27% | 33% |
| Sad or depressed | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| None of the above | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Unaffected | 2% | 0% | 2% |
Senior scam victims are significantly more anxious about being targeted again compared to non-victimized seniors. Overall, 58 percent of all seniors express high concern about being targeted during the holidays, compared to just 37 percent of adults under 65.
Percentage of victims agreeing with statements, by age
| Statement | 18–64 years | 65+ years | All victims |
|---|---|---|---|
| I trust my instincts to keep me safe online. | 75% | 61% | 72% |
| I take pride in helping my friends or family avoid scams. | 72% | 59% | 69% |
| I believe most scams are obvious and easy to spot. | 61% | 45% | 57% |
| I sometimes worry I’d be embarrassed to admit if I got scammed. | 45% | 32% | 42% |
| I feel anxious when I get delivery or payment texts during the holidays. | 36% | 37% | 36% |
| I feel less generous around the holidays due to concerns about scams. | 30% | 34% | 31% |
One-third of senior scam victims say fraud makes them less generous during the holidays—but notably, 23 percent of non-victims also report this anxiety affects their giving. This suggests the psychological impact of fraud extends beyond direct victims to the broader community, potentially reducing charitable giving and gift-shopping activity.
Nearly one-quarter of senior scam victims didn’t report the incident to anyone—including financial institutions, retailers, law enforcement, or even family. This silence prevents recovery efforts, allows scammers to continue operations, and keeps fraud statistics artificially low.
States Where Seniors Lose the Most: 2025’s Highest Fraud Rates
Nationwide, fraud reports among adults aged 60 and above increased by roughly 18 percent year-over-year from 2024 to 2025. The financial toll is enormous: the FTC logged more than $3 billion in total losses from older adults in 2024. In the first half of 2025 alone, adults 60 or older lost a total of $1.5 billion to fraud.
While scams occur nationwide, certain states have become hotbeds for senior-targeted fraud. New data from the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network highlights which states are seeing the steepest increases in reports and losses.
States With the Highest Rates of Senior Fraud Reports per 100,000 (January-June 2025)
Among adults 60+
| State | Reports per 100K | Total reports 2025 | YOY change in fraud reports | Total losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 453 | 1,727 | +65% | $5,191,217 |
| Nevada | 431 | 3,082 | +52% | $21,036,621 |
| Colorado | 413 | 5,098 | +17% | $22,794,174 |
| Arizona | 410 | 7,379 | +22% | $66,868,640 |
| Washington | 399 | 6,984 | +14% | $34,678,914 |
| Oregon | 352 | 3,745 | +11% | $19,558,743 |
| Maryland | 351 | 4,964 | +13% | $29,840,793 |
| District of Columbia | 342 | 405 | -13% | $1,916,705 |
| Delaware | 337 | 927 | +4% | $4,175,046 |
| Montana | 335 | 993 | +26% | $5,916,653 |
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data
Several of the states with the highest senior fraud rates have recently taken concrete steps to strengthen protections and enforcement. In New Hampshire, where reports rose 65 percent in a year, the Department of Justice expanded its Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit to handle both investigations and public education. State law now requires financial institutions to pause suspicious transactions when exploitation is suspected and defines financial abuse of older adults as a specific criminal offense.
In Nevada, the Attorney General’s Senior Protection Unit aims to enhance consumer protection and bolster anti-fraud teams to pursue elder-targeted scams. Existing state statutes criminalize financial exploitation of older persons. Nevada also funds the Southern Nevada Senior Law Program, offering free legal assistance to victims of elder exploitation.
Other highly affected states, including Colorado, Arizona, and Washington, have bolstered their adult-protective-services networks and adopted or expanded “elder-financial-hold” laws that allow banks to delay questionable withdrawals or transfers. These coordinated legal and financial safeguards mark a growing nationwide trend.
Some metropolitan areas in the U.S. also had higher-than-average rates of fraud among seniors. In the first half of 2025, these metropolitan areas had the highest population-adjusted rates of fraud reports among adults 60+:
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV
- Jacksonville, FL
- Lubbock, TX
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Lumberton, NC
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
Looking Ahead: AI Scams and Real-Time Protections
As scam tactics evolve, 2026 may mark the arrival of a new generation of fraud powered by artificial intelligence. Experts warn of AI-generated shopping ads, cloned customer service chats, and voice-assisted phishing calls that can convincingly impersonate loved ones or brand representatives.
Banks and retailers are already testing tools to prevent AI-powered scams against seniors and flag unusual transactions. Meanwhile, advocacy groups like the National Cybersecurity Alliance and AARP are calling for more robust public-private partnerships to ensure seniors aren’t left behind in the digital safety race.
For now, we recommend a few simple precautions for shoppers of all ages:
- Always verify the seller’s website address before making a purchase.
- Avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts or emails.
- Enable two-factor authentication when logging into financial or social media accounts to add an extra layer of security.
- Use credit cards for online transactions.
- Discuss suspicious messages with family members and tell someone if you’ve been scammed — scammers thrive on isolation.
Methodology
In October 2025, TheSeniorList.com polled 2,411 American adults (including 540 people aged 65 or older) about their personal experiences with online scams. The poll was conducted online. Participants’ responses were weighted to be representative of the age, sex, and ethnicity of the U.S. population according to the Census. Participants who’d been scammed were asked to report about their most recent incident of being scammed: their feelings they had about the experience, the type of scam they fell victim to, and the steps they took after. We also analyzed data from the FTC Consumer Sentinel Network for 2024 and 2025 to determine fraud rates and losses among adults aged 60 and above by state.