The 5 holiday scams hitting phones right now (and the protection that pays you back)

November 7, 2026

By Kim Komando

Scammers don’t take the holidays off. They work overtime.

Black Friday deals, holiday shipping and year-end charity drives make the next eight weeks the crooks’ busiest season. Americans reported losing a record $15.9 billion to fraud last year, per the FTC. That’s up 27% in one year.

Before you shop, put a safety net under your family. I use Coveron, and right now, you can get 71% off.

🎯 The scams hitting phones

Nearly 1 in 3 people who lost money last year were first contacted on social media. Scams that started on Facebook alone cost people more than texts and email combined. Here’s what’s landing:

• Fake delivery texts. “Your package is on hold. Update your address.” One tap, and they’ve got your card number.
• Copycat stores. Social media ads for 80% off brand-name gear lead to cloned sites. You pay. Nothing ships.
• Fake fraud alerts. “Did you authorize a $499 charge?” It’s not your bank. Business impersonators took about $1 billion last year, and fake banks pulled the biggest scores.
• AI voice clones. A panicked call from your “grandson” who needs bail money. It sounds exactly like him. The FBI says scams powered by AI cost Americans $893 million last year.
• Gift card demands. No real company, agency or utility wants payment in gift cards. Ever.

The tell is always urgency. Slow down, hang up and call back using a number you know is real.

🛡️ ID theft isn’t limited to your SSN

Old-school identity theft meant someone opened a credit card in your name. Today, crooks go after your email login, your phone number, your bank app, even the deed to your house.

Alerts are great. But an alert doesn’t get your money back.

That’s why I switched to Coveron, a sponsor of my show.* (I used to have LifeLock. I think Coveron’s coverage is better, and it’s much more affordable.) From the folks behind NordVPN, it goes further:

• Watches the dark web for your email, phone numbers, SSN and credit card numbers
• Flags new credit, loans and bank accounts opened in your name
• Reimburses eligible online fraud losses, including fake stores, marketplace scams and QR code scams
• Provides up to $2 million in identity theft recovery, with a case manager who helps clean up the mess

✅ My exclusive deal: Get 71% off Coveron. That’s $4.36 a month on a 2-year plan. Lock in my deal here.

Don’t wait until after you tap the wrong text. Protect your family with Coveron for $4.36 a month.

I get so many robocalls, my husband thinks I’m having an affair with Scam Likely.

📩 Send this to someone who taps every “your package is on hold” text.