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Trick or Treat? – Common Fall Scams and How to Avoid Them

September 29, 2026

With the changing of the seasons, there are common scams that tend to pop up every fall and early winter during the “Ber” months: September, October, November, and December. This is due to the holidays and the normal behaviors that come with them, including increased shopping, open enrollment in health plans, and general holiday giving.

Some common fall scams include Medicare & Healthcare Fraud, Holiday Delivery Scams, Fraudulent Charities, and Seasonal Romance Scams. Learning how to identify and avoid these scams, while keeping a mindset of extra vigilance this time of year, will help you avoid becoming a victim so you can enjoy your holiday season.

Medicare & Healthcare Fraud

These types of scams occur every fall around the time of open enrollment for health plans. Typically, scammers pose as Medicare agents so they can steal your personal data by presenting you with fake plans. Some common scams to watch out for are:

  • Fake Medicare Representatives – Scammers will call you and claim that you must upgrade to a new “fall plan” or lose coverage.
  • New Card Offers – Scammers will contact you posing as government agents and offer you a “new physical Medicare card” for a fee or in exchange for personal details.
  • Senior Health Fair Traps – Scammers will hold “free screenings” or “health seminars” so they can collect Medicare numbers for unneeded lab work or respiratory panels.

You can combat and avoid these scams by doing the following:

  • Guard Your Number – Never give out your Medicare ID to callers or at pop-up tents where they may advertise “free screenings.”
  • Verify Plans – Only make changes to your plans via the official Medicare website (medicare.gov), by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, or by working with a trusted local representative with whom you have already established a relationship.
  • Check Statements – Review your Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) for any unfamiliar charges that you know weren’t part of your normal medical treatments.
  • Report Suspicious Activity – If you encounter suspicious activity or spot fraudulent activity, contact the SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) at 1-877-808-2468.

Holiday Delivery Scams

With the holidays and the increase in spending and shopping comes an increase in holiday delivery scams. These can actually peak late in the season when online shopping increases. A common tactic is sending fake text messages claiming that a package is delayed. The messages often include links that, if clicked, could lead to malware or the theft of your personal information. Some common examples are:

  • Fake Alerts – You receive texts or emails that claim a delivery has failed or that a small fee is needed to complete the delivery.
  • Phishing Links – Some of these messages contain links that take you to look-alike websites that mimic common shipping companies such as UPS, FedEx, or USPS. These sites may trick you into entering sensitive information, including payment information, which goes directly to the scammer.
  • Data Theft – This goes hand-in-hand with phishing links, where these fraudulent sites can steal your passwords, personal information, and payment information, such as bank account or credit card information.
  • Door Notes – These are fake “missed delivery” notes left on your door with phone numbers for you to call, where scammers will try to obtain your personal or sensitive information.

If you encounter any of the above attempts, here’s what you should do:

  • Never Click Links – If you receive any unexpected text messages or emails pertaining to shipments, don’t click on any of the links.
  • Go Direct – If you’re not sure, type the carrier’s website (UPS, USPS, FedEx, etc.) directly into your browser and check the tracking number on the actual site.
  • Be Wary of Unexpected Fees – If you’re unexpectedly asked for a fee to complete a shipment or arrange redelivery, stop and verify the request directly with the shipping company before paying anything.

Fraudulent Charities

When the holidays arrive, our charitable spirit can grow, and we may make larger donations to groups that help those in need. Unfortunately, fraudsters are all too aware of this and can prey upon those who are only trying to help. One of the most common ways they do this is through phony websites that mimic real relief funds. Instead of going to those in need, your charitable donation goes straight to the scammers. Here are some things to watch out for:

  • Disaster Imposters – Scammers will reach out posing as relief funds for recent or local disasters. If you’ve had a recent natural disaster in your area, be wary of this.
  • Copycat Names – Scammers will use titles for their “relief fund” that are slightly modified to mimic the names of trusted, well-known organizations.
  • High Pressure – As with many common scams, fraudsters may demand an immediate decision or urgent donation.
  • Unusual Payment – They may request cash, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards as forms of payment. All of these are red flags.
  • Phishing Links – Just like with the prior scams listed, scammers can resort to sending unsolicited text messages or emails that contain fake donation portal links.

If your senses go off due to any of the above, follow these steps:

  • Slow Down – Real charities will welcome your donation when you’re ready, so if you’re being pressured, slow down and take the time to investigate.
  • Verify the Group – If you’re suspicious of the name or simply want to do your due diligence, there are watchdog databases such as Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org) or CharityWatch (charitywatch.org) you can use to research the charity in question and make sure it is legitimate.
  • Pay Safely – If you’re feeling good about the charity but still want to be cautious, consider using a credit card rather than cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other difficult-to-recover payment methods.
  • Go Direct – Just like with delivery scams, you can type the actual web address of the charity you’re looking to donate to directly into your browser instead of clicking shared links.
  • Report Fraud – If you’ve encountered this type of fraud, you can file a complaint using the FTC Scam Reporting Tool at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Seasonal Romance Scams

The holidays can be a lonely and stressful time for some folks, and unfortunately, there are scammers who view this as an opportunity to take advantage of people by manipulating their desire for companionship. Individuals can be emotionally vulnerable due to the shorter days and colder weather and may feel isolated. The holidays and family gatherings can also bring a perceived pressure to be in a relationship. Colder weather and shorter days can mean spending more time indoors and more time browsing social media and dating apps.

If you’re seeking a relationship, especially during the holiday season, be aware of these common relationship scam tactics:

  • Rapid Lovebombing – This is when the scammer shows excessive affection early in the relationship in an attempt to bypass logical skepticism. They find “a connection” with you and smoothly build on it from there, adding more and more affection.
  • The “Can’t Make It” Excuse – When you try and try again to meet up with the person or have them come to a holiday function, only to be met with last-minute cancellations because of “emergencies,” “work crises,” or a “military deployment,” this should be a major red flag.
  • Holiday Travel or Crisis Stories – This occurs when you’ve started an online relationship with the person but haven’t met them yet, and they begin requesting money from you for emergency flights, medical bills, family emergencies, or customs fees to clear a holiday gift, which may all be part of the scam.

If you’ve started an online relationship with someone but are beginning to see these situations, or your senses are going off, protect yourself with the following:

  • Trust Your Gut – Your senses are going off for a reason, so listen to them.
  • Never Send Money – Do not send money, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to someone you only know through an online relationship, particularly someone you have never met in person.
  • Ask for a Live Video Call – If you keep getting the “I can’t make it” excuses, ask for a real-time video chat. Repeated excuses for avoiding a video call or face-to-face meeting should be a red flag. But remember, even meeting someone in person doesn’t guarantee they are trustworthy. We’ve actually had a member who met her scammer in person, so continue to stay alert and trust your instincts even after you’ve met.
  • Run a Reverse Image Search – If your senses are tingling, try checking their profile pictures using search tools to see if the photos actually belong to someone else. You might be surprised by what you find.
  • Read more about Romance Scams here: https://penlancofcu.com/insights-blog/romancescams/

When the “Ber” months arrive, stay vigilant and be on the lookout for scammers and their “tricks” so you can avoid becoming a victim and instead “treat” yourself to a safe and happy holiday season. And remember, you’re not alone. If something ever feels “off,” come talk to us. We see scams and fraud attempts every day, and we may be able to spot a red flag, answer your questions, or help guide you on what to do next. When in doubt, it never hurts to ask!

Stay aware, trust your gut, and if you see something, say something.

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