As we head into the last stretch of December (and last-minute gift shopping), your doorstep is probably busier than ever. And if you’re anything like me, you’re probably also juggling shipping updates, tracking numbers, and “out for delivery” alerts from half a dozen retailers.

Unfortunately, scammers know this too, and they’ve likely been preparing for it all year. Like clockwork, I’ve already started seeing the usual wave of fake tracking texts hitting people’s phones. They look legit, they show up right when you’re expecting a package, and they rely on one inescapable truth: during the holiday rush, most of us are too overwhelmed to notice when something feels off.

No need to panic, though. You can still come out ahead of the scammers. I’ll show you what to look out for and how you can prevent being targeted in the first place.

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THE FAKE REFUND SCAM: WHY SCAMMERS LOVE HOLIDAY SHOPPERS

What fake delivery text messages look like

Most of these fake shipping texts include a “tracking link” that looks close enough to the real thing that you might tap without thinking twice about it. In some cases, like one Maryland woman found out, you may even receive fake deliveries with a QR code that works in a similar way.

These links usually lead to a spoofed tracking page that looks almost identical to the real thing. It’ll ask you to “confirm” your login or enter your delivery details. The moment you type anything in, scammers capture it and use it to access your real accounts.

Even worse, the “tracking link” may contain malware or spyware, triggering silent installs that can steal passwords, monitor keystrokes, or give scammers remote access to your device.

Red flags that reveal fake shipping and tracking messages

So how can you distinguish between a legitimate message for a delivery you’re actually waiting for and one of these scams? Here are the red flags I look for:

• Weird or slightly altered URLs. Scammers use domains that look almost right. Except there’s usually one extra letter, a swapped character, or a completely unfamiliar extension.
• Requests for additional payment. Real carriers don’t ask you to pay a “small fee” to release a package. That’s an instant giveaway.
• A package you’re not expecting. If the text is vague or you can’t match it to a recent order, pause before you tap anything.
• Delivery attempts at odd hours. “Missed delivery at 6:12 AM” or “late-night attempt” messages are usually fake. Carriers don’t normally operate like that.
• Updates that don’t match what you see in the retailer’s app or email. If Amazon says your package is arriving tomorrow, but a random text says it’s delayed or stuck, trust Amazon, not the text.
• Language that is designed to rush you. Anything screaming “immediate action required!” is designed to make you stop thinking and start tapping.

If a text triggers any one of these, I delete it on the spot. When in doubt, always check directly with the delivery service provider first before opening any links.

WHY YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING DATA NEEDS A CLEANUP NOW

How scammers know your address, phone number, and shopping habits

Scammers don’t magically know where you live or what you’ve ordered — they buy that information. There’s actually an entire industry of data brokers built on collecting and selling personal data. This can include your:

• Phone number
• Home address
• Email
• Purchase history
• Browsing patterns
• Retailers accounts and apps
• Loyalty programs
• Even preferred delivery times.

These data brokers can sell profiles containing hundreds of data points on you. And they aren’t always discerning about who they sell to. In fact, some of them have been caught intentionally selling data to scammers.

Once scammers have those details, creating a convincing delivery scam is no problem.

But scammers can’t target what they can’t find

I’ve been very vocal about the importance of keeping personal information under lock and key. And this is just one of the reasons why.

Criminals rely on your personal information to target you with these types of scams. They also need at least a phone number or email address to reach you in the first place.

So your best bet to avoid delivery scams (and, honestly, most other scams year-round) is removing your info from data brokers and people search sites. Doing this will keep your details out of circulation online and out of the wrong hands.

FBI WARNS EMAIL USERS AS HOLIDAY SCAMS SURGE

How to remove your personal information from scammers’ reach

You can start by looking yourself up online. Searching for different combinations of your name, address, email, and phone number should bring up a bunch of people search sites. Just visit the “opt-out” page on each site to request removal of your data.

Private-database data brokers are a bit trickier. They sell data in bulk, usually to marketers and other third parties. So you won’t be able to check if they have your information. But if you look into which data brokers operate in your area, you can just send opt-out requests to them all. There’s a good chance they’ll have your information.

You can also turn to a data removal service. They completely remove the headache from this process and just automatically keep your personal info off data broker sites. If, like me, you don’t have the time to keep manually checking data broker sites and sending removal requests every few months (because your data will keep reappearing), a personal data removal service is the way to go.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Holiday delivery scams work because they blend perfectly into the chaos of December shopping. A well-timed text and a familiar tracking link are often all it takes to lower your guard. By slowing down, checking messages directly with retailers, and reducing how much of your personal data is circulating online, you can take away the advantage scammers rely on. A little caution now can save you a major headache later.

Have you received a suspicious delivery text or tracking message this holiday season? If so, tell us what it looked like and how you handled it by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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All year on The Vergecast, we’ve been tracking the many bizarre and problematic actions of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. There has been a lot to discuss! Then, this week, ahead of one of our last episodes of the year, Carr appeared in front of the Senate Commerce Committee and spent three hours explaining how he thinks about his job, the FCC, and the state of online communication and entertainment. It was a lot.

On this episode of The Vergecast, we begin with a dissection of Carr’s testimony, his threats against broadcasters, and the ways in which he’s using old ideas about content delivery to get his political way. Nilay and David walk through some of Carr’s most important quotes, explain the history of broadband regulation, and look ahead to how Carr might bring these same tactics to internet regulation next year.

Also, an important housekeeping note: The Vergecast will be live at CES! We’ll be at the Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas, at 3:30PM on Wednesday, January 7th. There will be podcasting, and hanging out, and bowling. It’s going to be great, and if you’re going to be in Vegas we’d love to see you there.

Until then, if you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started, first on Brendan Carr:

And in the streaming wars:

And in the lightning round:

Holiday gatherings and year-end travel often lead to a spike in missing pets. Doors open more often, routines shift and animals can slip outside in a moment of confusion. 

New Year’s Eve creates loud fireworks, and shelters report some of their busiest nights of the entire year. Amid all that, one Texas family just experienced a heartwarming reunion thanks to an AI photo matching on Petco Love Lost.

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FIND A LOST PHONE THAT IS OFF OR DEAD

How AI photo matching kept the search going

Pam’s 11-year-old indoor cat, Grayson, had never been outside alone. She believes he slipped out while she unloaded groceries at their home in Plano, Texas. The moment she realized he was gone, she acted fast. 

She said, “We went up and down the streets day and night. We went online in the neighborhood and on Love Lost. We put up flyers all over the neighborhood. Friends and neighbors were looking for him. I went to the animal shelter, posted him there, and went every day for over a month, hoping to find him.”

Pam uploaded Grayson’s photo to Petco Love Lost right away. She checked her daily match alerts and hoped she would see his familiar face pop up. She told CyberGuy, “I received match alerts almost every day from Lost Love, but never saw Grayson. His profile had been on their site for over 90 days.”

The moment everything changed

Missy, a nearby resident, spotted a thin cat in an alley near her home. She brought him inside, took a picture of him and then turned to Love Lost to see if anyone had reported a missing cat like him.

Missy explained how simple the process felt. “I used Lost Love to reunite them,” she said. “I uploaded a photo of the cat that we found, and it was matched through AI with the photo that the owner uploaded.”

She soon received an AI match alert and learned that the cross street Grayson’s owner, Pam, had listed in her lost post was only a mile from her home. Missy contacted Pam right away.

That message changed everything. “I am sure that if we had not posted his picture and enabled the ability to match the images, we would never have known what happened to Grayson,” Pam said. “And we would not have connected with Missy.”

AI TECH HELPS A SENIOR REUNITE WITH HER CAT AFTER 11 DAYS

A long road for an aging cat

Grayson is almost 12 and has never lived outdoors. That made this reunion feel even more emotional, Pam said.

“I am still amazed at Grayson’s journey,” she added. “I look at him and cannot believe he made it through those 103 days. He is almost 12 years old, so he is not a young kitty.”

Pam said she still thinks about what those months were like for him. “[I] guess I will always wonder where he was and how many stops he made before he reached Missy’s loving home,” she said. “He must have known she would take care of him. It takes a special person to take the time to reunite a beloved pet with their family. Missy and her family went above and beyond to reunite us with Grayson.”

Why pet tech matters during the holidays

This season brings joy but also risks for pets. Visitors, travel and loud celebrations create more chances for animals to slip out or feel spooked. Tools like AI photo matching help families act fast when a pet goes missing. Love Lost connects shelters and neighbors in one place so that people like Pam and Missy can find each other.

What to do if your pet goes missing

Losing a pet can feel overwhelming, but taking fast action helps. These steps guide you through what to do right away.

1) Search your home and neighborhood right away

Look in closets, garages and under furniture. Walk your street and ask neighbors to check yards and sheds.

2) Upload your pet’s photo to Petco Love Lost

Take a clear photo and post it on the site. AI photo matching alerts you when a possible match appears. It also helps others contact you fast.

3) Visit your local shelters in person

Shelters update kennels throughout the day. Staff can guide you and help flag your pet’s profile. Go often until you get updates.

4) Post on local community groups

Use neighborhood apps, local Facebook groups and community forums. Include your pet’s photo, last known location and your contact info.

5) Put up flyers right away

Use a large photo and simple details. Place flyers at busy intersections and near schools, parks and businesses.

6) Contact your pet’s microchip registry

If your pet is microchipped, call the registry or log in to your account. Make sure the chip is registered to you, update your contact info and mark your pet as missing so shelters and vets can reach you fast.

7) Stay consistent with your search

Check Love Lost alerts often. Visit shelters and follow up on every lead. Persistence made the difference for Pam and Grayson.

LOST DOGS ON FOURTH OF JULY: HOW TO KEEP YOUR PET SAFE

How AirTags can help you find a lost pet faster

While tools like AI photo matching are invaluable after a pet goes missing, prevention and real-time tracking can make an enormous difference during the first critical hours. That’s where Apple AirTags come in. An AirTag isn’t a GPS tracker, but it can still be a powerful recovery tool when used correctly. When attached securely to your pet’s collar, an AirTag uses Apple’s vast Find My network. That network consists of hundreds of millions of nearby iPhones, iPads and Macs that can anonymously and securely relay the AirTag’s location back to you.

If your pet wanders into a neighborhood, apartment complex or busy area, the chances are high that another Apple device will pass nearby and update the location automatically. You won’t know who helped, and they won’t know it was them, but the location can show up on your map within minutes. For indoor cats or dogs that don’t usually roam far, this can be especially helpful. Even a rough location can narrow your search area and save precious time.

Important limits to know: AirTags work best in populated areas. They rely on nearby Apple devices, so coverage may be limited in rural or remote locations. They also don’t update continuously like true GPS pet trackers. That’s why AirTags should be seen as a backup layer, not a replacement for microchipping or dedicated pet trackers.  

How to use an AirTag safely with pets

• Use a secure, pet-specific AirTag holder that won’t break easily.
• Attach it to a breakaway collar for cats and dogs to reduce injury risk.
• Make sure Find My notifications are turned on so you get alerts quickly.
• Combine it with microchipping and ID tags for the best protection.

Used together, these tools give you multiple ways to reconnect with your pet, whether minutes or months have passed.

For a list of the best pet trackers, go to Cyberguy.com  and search “best pet trackers.”

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Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com  

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Kurt’s key takeaways 

Grayson’s reunion is a reminder that tech works best when caring people put it to use. AI matched the photos, but Missy took action, and Pam never stopped looking. Their persistence helped a senior cat get home after a long and risky journey.

If your pet went missing today, would you know the first step to bring them home fast? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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