AARP posted a warning on Nov. 5, 2026 to help people avoid holiday scams as gift-buying season starts. Fake stores and delivery texts are on the list.
AARP, the US group for people 50 and older, has posted a warning to stop holiday scams before they start. It went up on Nov. 5, 2026, just as gift buying picks up. The message is simple: more shopping means more texts, emails and calls about money, and scammers are counting on that.
Anyone who shops online, gets package texts or gives to charity this season. AARP's focus is on older adults and families buying gifts. The page also links to the group's collection of cautionary tales about today's biggest scams, which shows how these tricks play out.
The steps in the alert box above are quick checks that cost nothing. They work because most scams depend on hurry. A pause is often enough to break the spell.
The page text available for this story was mostly menus and links. It did not include figures on how many people have been hit or how much money has been lost. The details are in the linked stories on AARP's site.
When a text, email or call about money feels urgent, stop and check it yourself before you click, pay or send anything.
The Attala County Sheriff's Office in Mississippi says scam calls are reaching residents, and a call that sounds official may not be.
Read more: Mississippi sheriff warns residents about scam phone callsScammers are posing as Texas sheriff's officers and claiming you missed jury duty. Caller ID can show a real police number even when the call is fake.
Read more: Fake jury duty calls spoof a real Texas sheriff's phone numberFake PayPal emails and texts, some posing as a security report, try to get you to tap a link and type your login. Checking your account directly avoids the trap.
Read more: Got a fake PayPal message? Skip its link and check your account yourself
