Christmas 2025: The Latest Frauds – Alert System from Kent Police

As we approach the final fraud alert of 2025, The Cyber Resilience Centre for the East is reminding members that the festive period one of the busiest times of the year for cybercriminals. Increased online shopping, delivery notifications, seasonal offers, reduced staffing, and business closures all create ideal conditions for scammers to succeed.

We work closely with local police forces to ensure members can access free tools to help protect themselves, including the latest fraud alerts issued by Kent Police. These alerts are particularly important at this time of year when cybercriminals actively exploit urgency, distractions and festive spending habits.

One of the most valuable resources is the Kent Fraud Email Alert System (K’FAs), developed by Stephen Kelly, Fraud Prevent and Protect Officer for Kent Police. The system provides regular updates highlighting current scams and offering clear guidance on how individuals and businesses can reduce their risk, especially vital during the Christmas trading period.

K’FAs reaches thousands of people and organisations across the UK, reflecting the nationwide nature of many scams. We are committed to sharing these alerts with our members, helping you stay alert to emerging threats during the busy Christmas season and into the New Year.

Click here for further information about fraud and how Kent Police can help.

1)      Courier Fraud

Watch out for courier fraud this festive period. Fraudsters may pose as your bank, the police, or a trusted courier service, claiming that there’s an urgent problem with your account or a suspicious transaction that needs immediate action. They may pressure you to act quickly, exploiting the seasonal rush that comes with Christmas.

Remember: your bank, the police, or any trusted service will never ask you to move your money to another account, share your PIN, or sending someone to your home to collect bank cards or valuables. This includes items such as cash, jewellery or gold bullion, no matter how official or reassuring the caller sounds.

This festive season, take a moment to pause before acting. If something feels urgent or unusual, please stop, verify and seek advice. A few extra seconds of caution can help ensure the festive season remains one of celebration, not recovery from fraud.

2)      Romance Fraud

The festive season can be a time where people feel lonelier, which makes romance fraud particularly prevalent at this time of year. Criminals exploit people’s emotions, kindness, and desire for connection, often striking up relationships online as people have more time to spend on social media or dating platforms.

Last year, over £106 million was lost to romance scams with victims targeted through dating apps, social media, and instant messaging platforms. Fraudsters may seem attentive, caring, and genuine, but their end goal is often to build trust before asking for money, gifts, or financial help. These requests will often be wrapped in convincing sob stories or seasonal emergencies.

If you’re unsure whether the person you’re talking to is real, take a moment to check. Reverse image search their profile photos to see if they appear elsewhere online under different names. Be especially cautious of anyone who avoids video calls, asks you to move conversations off the platform quickly, or introduces financial requests. Taking time to pause, asking questions, and verifying who you’re speaking to can help ensure festive connections are genuine, and not a costly scam!

3)      Gift Card Fraud

With gift cards high on many Christmas shopping lists, gift card fraud becomes especially common during the festive season. Criminals take advantage of the rush, the pressure to act quickly, and the expectation that buying gift cards at this time of year is completely normal.

You may receive unsolicited calls, texts, or emails claiming you need to purchase gift cards to pay a fine, bill, or outstanding charge. These messages often create urgency, warning of consequences if you don’t act immediately. In other cases, criminals will impersonate family members, friends, or colleagues, claiming they have a bill to pay and desperately need your help.

Remember: no legitimate organisation will ever ask for payment using gift cards and your real family or friends won’t pressure you into sending gift card codes to them. This Christmas, slow down, verify unexpected requests, and take a moment to check before you pay.

4)      Charity Fraud

Christmas is the season of giving, and many people look to support charities at this time of year. Unfortunately, criminals are ready to take advantage of this generosity and charity fraud often increases during the festive period.

Scammers may contact you by phone, email, text, or social media, posing as well-known charities or inventing urgent causes designed to tug at your heartstrings. Their aim is to rush you into donating before you have time to check whether the charity is genuine. This means your money could end up in the pocket of a cybercriminal rather than helping those in need.

The heightened risk of fraud shouldn’t put you off giving this Christmas, but it should encourage you to give safely. Take a moment to verify charities before donating, use trusted websites, and be cautious of unsolicited requests or pressure to donate. By pausing and taking the time to check, you can make sure your generosity makes a difference and that your festive goodwill goes to the right place.

Final thoughts

To wrap up, the festive season should be a time of celebration, not stress. By staying aware of common scams, you can help protect yourself, your loved ones, and your business from fraud this Christmas.

For more information and practical advice, visit Kent Police – Advice about fraud, as well as the Home Office campaign Stop! Think Fraud, which offers guidance on how to stay safe from scams.

If you believe you’ve been a victim of any type of fraud, contact your bank immediately by calling 159. You should also report the incident to Report Fraud at www.reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. Acting quickly can make a real difference in limiting the impact and helping prevent others from becoming victims.