FBI Philadelphia issued a seasonal warning that scammers are increasing charity and holiday‑themed frauds targeting donors and shoppers. The office urged verification of charities, avoidance of immediate payment via gift cards or crypto, and reporting to IC3 or local law enforcement.

The FBI’s Philadelphia field office released a holiday advisory highlighting a surge in charity fraud, gift‑card schemes, and other seasonal scams that target generosity during peak giving and shopping periods. The bulletin stresses that scammers exploit urgency and emotional appeals to pressure donors into immediate payments, frequently requesting gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency that are difficult or impossible to recover. FBI Philadelphia recommends confirming a charity’s legitimacy through official registries, using known organizational websites or phone numbers, and refusing requests that demand instant payment or insist on unconventional payment methods. The release also advises shoppers to be cautious of unsolicited donation requests on social media, to secure payment methods, and to report any suspected fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or local police so incidents can be tracked and investigated. The field office emphasized community outreach and education as key prevention tools and encouraged employers, charities, and financial institutions to remind people that legitimate organizations do not pressure donors to use gift cards or crypto.