84% of Americans have met a scam, and the holidays make it worse

A new AARP study finds that 84% of U.S. adults have run into at least one common type of fraud. AARP warns that the holidays give scammers more openings, with more shopping, travel, deliveries and giving. The 2026 AARP Holiday Shopping and Scams Report points to fake shipping alerts, fake charities and gift card tricks.

What the study found

• 47% got a fake shipping alert in the past year.
• 44% got a text about a fake toll payment.
• About one-third got a request to give to a fraudulent charity.
• Three in 10 had a package stolen from outside their home.

Nearly 40% of adults say they experienced fraud after buying from an online ad. Gift cards are a weak spot too. More than 70% plan to give one this season, yet 35% say they have given or received one with no balance.

Help and what is not clear

The release does not say how many people were surveyed or how the survey was done. It also does not list specific warning signs. Kathy Stokes, AARP's senior director of fraud prevention programs, said knowing the signs helps and called for stronger consumer protections.

AARP's Fraud Watch Network is free. You can sign up for Watchdog Alerts by email or text, or call 877-908-3360 to report a scam or get support. More is at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.