From Cyber Monday deals to last-minute Christmas gifts, these online shopping safety tips can help West Texas families enjoy the holiday season with confidence.

It’s a tale as old as time – and money: When cash moves, scammers follow. And a whole lot of money moves during the holiday season. Last year, online shopping set a Cyber Monday record: Americans spent $14.25 billion in a single day. 
 
It’s easy to see why: Online shopping is fast and easy. Unfortunately, that’s also what makes it easy to get fooled, even for people who do it all the time.  

In 2025, Americans filed more than 56,000 complaints with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center about frauds where the money or the package never showed up. Reported losses totaled about $503 million. 
 
And now AI has entered the chat, both literally and figuratively. It’s helping scammers make their ploys harder for folks to spot than ever. 
 
That’s why we create this guide. Many scams share the same warning signs. Once you know what to look for, you’ll have your scammer senses heightened in no time. 

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Online Shopping Scams: What Every Holiday Shopper Should Know 

Common Scam	Red Flag to Watch For	How to Stay Safe
Fake online stores	Unbelievably low prices on popular gifts and luxury goods.	Look up stores you don’t know, and read reviews from outside the site
Phony delivery alerts	Texts claiming a package cannot be delivered until you click a link	Check your tracking number on the shipper’s own app or site
Fake holiday deals	Social media ads offering expensive items at huge discounts	Go to the store’s own website instead of clicking the ad
Phishing emails	Messages claiming there is a problem with your order or payment	Don’t click links you didn’t expect. Sign in through the store’s own site
Gift card payment scams	Sellers insisting on payment by gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency	Use a credit card whenever possible
Fake charity appeals	Urgent donation requests from charities you’ve never heard of	Look up the charity before you give, especially on GivingTuesday

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7 Simple Ways West Texas Shoppers Can Stay Safe Online 

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself online. These seven simple habits can make a big difference. 

1. Shop Stores You Know, Especially in West Texas 

Big names like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy make online shopping easy. But don’t overlook the shops closer to home. Before you default to a big site, check whether a store in Lamesa, Snyder, or Seminole sells what you need online. 

Shopping with a store you’ve never heard of? Take a second to look it up. The FTC suggests searching the seller’s name along with words like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” Read what other people say about the store, not just the reviews the store posts about itself. 

And remember: Showing up in a sponsored search result or a social media ad does not make a store real. Do your homework.  

2. Don’t Let a Great Deal Cloud Your Judgment 

Everybody loves a Black Friday or Cyber Monday bargain, especially when holiday shopping lists keep growing. But that $300 gadget advertised for $29.99 that just popped up on your social media feed? Stop. Breathe. Think. And then take a closer look. 

Scammers build fake sites that look just like stores you know. Before you click “Buy,” check the web address, the contact information, and the return policy. 

The little lock icon in your browser isn’t a seal of approval. It only means what you send is scrambled on the way, and fake sites have it too. 

3. Use Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication 

A strong password keeps most people out of your shopping account. Two-factor authentication stops the ones who get your password anyway. 

Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, means your password alone won’t get anyone in. The store checks one more thing, usually a code it texts you. Someone three states away with your password still can’t get past that. 

Some online stores offer a passkey instead. You sign in with your phone’s fingerprint or face scan, and there’s no password to steal. 
 
Here’s one scam to watch for: A scammer who already has your password tries to log in, and the real company texts you a real code. Then they call and ask you to read it back. Never do. A real company will not ask you for a code it just sent you. 

4. Watch Out for Fake Package Delivery Messages 

You’re expecting several packages when your phone buzzes: “Your delivery could not be completed. Update your address immediately.” The message looks like it’s from USPS, UPS, or FedEx. 

But it could be a scam built to get your payment information or personal details. The FTC says fake package-delivery notifications were the most reported text scam of 2024. 

Don’t click the link. Open the shipping company’s official app or website and enter your tracking number directly. 

5. Pay the Safe Way 

Shopping on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist? Be wary of sellers who insist on gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers, or who won’t take a payment method with buyer protection. The FTC says both are scam warning signs. 

The FTC suggests paying with a credit card instead of a debit card. If you’re charged the wrong amount or your order never arrives, a credit card gives you more options to get your money back. Save your receipts and order confirmations in case you need to ask for a refund. 

6. Give Generously, but Verify the Charity 

Giving Tuesday (December 1 this year) is a day for giving to nonprofits and worthy causes, and Americans gave about $4 billion last year. Scammers know that. Some of them copy the name of a real charity. Others invent one. 

Before you give, go to the charity’s own website and make sure it is what it says it is. Charity Navigator and the FTC’s charity guidance can help you check. And giving close to home counts: a volunteer fire department, a school booster club, or a county food pantry puts your money to work right here in West Texas. 

7. Keep Your Software Up to Date 

Security updates fix the holes criminals use to get in. Keep your phone, computer, browser, and shopping apps up to date. 

Pro tip: Fast internet makes this easier. A lot of people put off updates because they take too long and get in the way. With fiber internet, updates finish while you’re making coffee, so there’s no reason to click “remind me later.”  

What If You Think You’ve Been Scammed?

Even careful shoppers get fooled. If something feels wrong, move fast. The sooner you act, the less a scammer can do. 

• Call your bank or credit card company. Do it right away if you shared payment details or see a charge you don’t recognize. 

• Change your passwords. Start with the site you used, then anywhere else you used that same one. 

• Report it in Texas. File a complaint with the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at texasattorneygeneral.gov or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 621-0508. 

• Report it federally. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov for fraud, or IC3.gov for internet crime. 

• Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM). Your phone’s own spam-reporting tool works too. 

Every report helps investigators spot new scams and warns other people. 

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How Poka Lambro Helps Keep West Texas Safe Online

Good habits are your first line of defense. A well-managed home network backs them up. Here’s how Poka Lambro helps West Texas families stay connected and protected. 

Your Neighbors. Your Connection.

When it comes to West Texas internet, a connection that works is only part of the story. Poka Lambro is more than your internet provider. We’re your neighbors. 

And around here, neighbors look out for each other. So from our Poka Lambro family to yours, have a happy, safe, and connected holiday season!