Holiday Scams Grow More Sophisticated as Fraudsters Target Busy Season

As families, shoppers, and businesses gear up for the holiday rush, scammers are rolling out new tactics designed to take advantage of year-end financial activity. This is the time of year when people are more likely to send and expect payments, manage invoices, place orders, and respond quickly to emails — a perfect environment for fraud.

Local businesses and individuals are being urged to stay alert as a new wave of scams begins circulating, many of them crafted to look like legitimate financial communications. Among the most concerning trends this season is a surge in fraudulent “remittance advance notification” emails impersonating QuickBooks and other accounting platforms.

Fake Remittance Notices Target QuickBooks Users

One of the fastest-growing scams involves emails that appear to come from QuickBooks or a trusted vendor using QuickBooks to send invoices. Subject lines often read “Remittance Advice,” “Payment Instruction,” “Invoice Reminder,” or “Direct Deposit Notice.”

These emails mimic real payment notifications and may even come from addresses that look legitimate at first glance. Inside, the message directs the recipient to click a button to “review” or “confirm” payment details. Once clicked, the link leads to a fake website that attempts to steal banking information, login credentials, or other sensitive data. Some victims also report follow-up phone calls from scammers posing as customer support, urging immediate action or remote access.

With many businesses processing year-end payments or handling holiday orders, scammers know their fraudulent notices are more likely to slip through.

Seasonal Fraud Spikes Across the Board

QuickBooks-style phishing is only one piece of a much larger surge in holiday scams this year. National reports show a sharp rise in account-takeover attempts, email impersonation, and fake order or shipping notifications. Criminals are increasingly using AI to craft realistic emails, invoices, and websites that look nearly identical to the real thing.

Holiday-themed scams remain common, including:

• Fake shipping updates
• Fraudulent order confirmations
• Spoofed emails from Amazon, UPS, or financial institutions
• Text messages claiming account errors or payment failures

Because people are busy and often multitasking during the holidays, experts warn that even cautious individuals may let their guard down.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Business

To reduce the risk of falling victim to a holiday scam, consider the following precautions:

• Verify the sender of any invoice or payment request, especially those appearing to come from QuickBooks.
• Avoid clicking unexpected “Review Payment” or “Pay Invoice” buttons. If unsure, contact the vendor directly using a known phone number.
• Enable multi-factor authentication on all key accounts to reduce the risk of account takeover.
• Establish internal safeguards before approving payments, such as confirming changes in bank information with vendors by phone.
• Slow down and take an extra moment during the busy season — scammers rely heavily on rushed decisions.

A Season for Celebration — and Caution

The holidays should be a time of joy, not financial worry. Unfortunately, scammers count on the seasonal rush to make their schemes more effective. By staying alert and verifying suspicious communications, residents and businesses can help protect themselves from becoming victims.

As new scams continue to emerge, awareness remains the strongest defense. Stay cautious, double-check unexpected messages, and keep your information secure as the holiday season unfolds.