Scammers Love the Holidays. Middleton, Let’s Not Make It Easy.

As holiday shopping and package deliveries increase, so do scam attempts. Each year, residents report a rise in fake ads, phishing texts, and too-good-to-be-true offers. Below are a few reminders to help keep our community safe this season.

Common Scams Right Now

• Online shopping scams with unbelievably low prices.
• Fake charities pretending to help during the holidays.
• Gift card scams in which cards arrive with a zero balance.
• Delivery scams impersonating USPS, UPS, FedEx, or Amazon.

Red Flags

• Unexpected messages or “urgent” requests.
• Being asked to pay with gift cards or peer-to-peer apps.
• Requests for passwords, PINs, or personal information.
• Links or email addresses that don’t look quite right.

How to Stay Safe

• Stick to trusted retailers and verified charities.
• Avoid clicking unknown links.
• Use a credit card for online purchases.
• When in doubt, pause, double-check, and do not share personal information.

Middleton is safest when we look out for one another. If something feels off, trust your instincts and report it. Stay safe and enjoy the season.