Special Days, Sneaky Scams

Stay Sharp During Every Celebration

From recognition days to major holidays, there are criminals actively looking to exploit special occasions, using them as cover to launch convincing, emotionally driven scams. Why? Because during these moments, people are more trusting, generous and less suspicious.

Why Special Days Make You a Target

During moments of celebration or recognition, you may be expecting gifts, special offers, or messages from loved ones. You may even be focused on donating to a cause. At the same time, you’re often busy, distracted, and less guarded, creating the perfect conditions for a scam to slip through. Here are examples of these ‘special’ scams:

1. Fake Announcements

You get a message saying you’ve won something like, “You’ve Won a Mother’s Day / Father’s Day Gift!” but to claim it, you must:

· Click a link

· Enter personal or sensitive information

· Pay a small “processing fee”

2. Fake Delivery Notifications

You check your email or phone and see messages like the below which are likely to lead to fake websites designed to steal passwords or install malware.

“Your Father’s Day package is delayed—click here.” “Someone sent you a surprise gift!”

3. Emotional Appeals During Recognition Days (e.g. Child Month) These messages ask you to donate to help or support a cause. Some are legitimate, but many are fake charities designed to pull at your heartstrings.

4. Social Media Impersonation and Flash Deals These scams spread quickly through shares and reposts, and may be fake profiles pretending to be:

· Popular brands offering holiday or special day sales

· Friends/family members asking for contributions to gifts

Spot the Scam Before It Spots You

Be cautious if you see:

· Too good to be true giveaways

· Urgent messages like “Act now!” or “Limited time!”

· Unknown links or unexpected messages

· Requests for sensitive information including passwords, PINs and banking details

Celebrate Smartly: Protect Yourself

· Pause before clicking, especially on unexpected messages

· Go to official sources. Don’t trust random links

· Verify before you give anything, especially monetary donations online

· Keep personal information private

· When in doubt, check it out. Try checking with family or friends to confirm whether they actually sent you anything. If no one can verify it, report the message to the platform or service where it came from then delete it.

Remember, every celebration, big or small, is an opportunity for scammers. Don’t let them turn a meaningful moment into a costly mistake.

Share the love, just not your personal details.