The fake refund scam: Why scammers love holiday shoppers
The holiday shopping season should feel exciting, but for scammers, it's rush hour. And this year, one trick is hitting more inboxes and phones than ever: the fake refund scam. If you've ever seen an unexpected "Your refund has been issued," "Your payment failed" or "We owe you money" email or text during November or December, it wasn't an accident.
Scammers know you're buying more, tracking more packages and juggling more receipts than at any other time of year. That chaos makes fake refund scams incredibly effective and incredibly dangerous.
Here's why these scams are spreading, how to spot them instantly and the one thing you can do today to stop scammers from targeting you in the first place.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.
FBI WARNS EMAIL USERS AS HOLIDAY SCAMS SURGE
Scammers strike when Americans are distracted, rushed and making dozens of purchases. Black Friday, Cyber Monday and holiday gift-buying create the perfect storm:
Holiday shopping means:
Scammers know this. When you're already expecting refund emails, their fake ones blend right in.
A study shows that this year, Americans will spend 3.6% more than the previous year on holiday shopping. A $200 to $500 purchase is completely normal during this season. Other reports show a decrease in spending, but note that people spend, on average, over $600 during the Black Friday promotions alone.
Expenses stack up, new things arrive, some get returned and a "$249 refund issued" message doesn't look suspicious—it looks plausible. But it's crucial you check if that message is real. Never click any links without a thorough look at the email address, name and content of the message.
Have you been eyeing a new home appliance? Or a present for a loved one? Have you saved anything in your cart just to see if the price drops? Thanks to Black Friday, your inbox is probably filled with:
It's easy to lose track of your orders and packages amidst the influx of emails. And when you're skimming more than 200 promotions, scams become harder to catch.
Scammers get their information from data brokers, companies that collect, package and sell your personal information. Your profile can include anything from your name, contact information, to your purchase history and even your financial situation.
In general, data brokers and shopping apps sell patterns, including:
And scammers buy that information to craft compelling and personalized attacks. That's why their fake refund emails often mimic retailers you actually used.
HOW TO STOP IMPOSTOR BANK SCAMS BEFORE THEY DRAIN YOUR WALLET
Scammers usually follow one of three playbooks:
"Your refund is ready-verify your account." You click a link, and you're taken to what looks like Amazon, Walmart, UPS, Target or Best Buy. And when you enter your login, scammers can steal your credentials by manipulating you.
"We overcharged you. Click here for your refund." It asks for your debit card number, your bank login and your PayPal credentials. Or worse: it installs malware that steals them automatically.
Phone version: "We issued a refund by mistake." You get a call from someone pretending to be Amazon customer service, PayPal support, or even your bank. They say they "refunded too much money" and need you to send back the difference. Some even screen-share to drain bank accounts in real time.
These scams cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars every year. The FTC reports that impostor scams (which are related to online shopping) accounted for the second-highest reported losses, resulting in $2.95 billion being lost in 2024.
Scammers are getting more sophisticated. Fake refund messages often include:
Here's the giveaway: No legitimate retailer requires you to enter banking info to receive a refund, ever.
Note that scams often ask you to:
Deleting your data manually from data broker sites is technically possible, but extremely tedious. Some require government ID uploads, faxed forms, multiple follow-up requests and updates every 30 to 90 days because they relist your data.
This is why most people almost never do it. A data removal service, however, automates the entire process. These services:
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren't cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It's what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com
Remember to follow these few simple steps to safeguard yourself against targeted scams.
Go directly to your retailer's website and check your actual order history. Verify the email address of the sender and only communicate with official representatives of the retailer.
Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for all of your accounts. With the help of 2FA, you'll need to authorize logins via email, text message or generated PINs. So, even if you accidentally enter your password somewhere fake, 2FA can stop the breach.
This is the part most people skip—and it's why they stay targets. Removing your personal info from data broker sites cuts off scammers' access to your real details. A data removal service automates and makes the process ongoing, which is why I recommend it to my most privacy-conscious readers.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
Refund scams explode during the holiday shopping season because scammers rely on two things: Chaos in your inbox and your personal data being sold behind your back. You can't stop scammers from sending fake emails, but you can stop them from targeting you specifically. Before peak holiday shopping hits, take a moment to clean up your data trail. You'll end up with fewer scams, fewer risks and far more peace of mind.
Have you received a suspicious refund email or text this season? Share your experience so we can help warn others in the comments below. Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.