Adam Snyder of Snyder Reports opened his recent video with a simple warning: holiday scams are back, and they’re showing up fast because Christmas and New Year’s are right around the corner.
Snyder said scammers know exactly what shoppers are doing right now – spending more money, watching their bank accounts more closely, tracking packages, and trying to stretch every dollar.
That mix creates the perfect trap. People are busy, distracted, and a little anxious, which is exactly when a well-timed scam message feels “normal” instead of suspicious.
Snyder also claimed we’re seeing more scams popping up in 2025 than ever before. His basic argument was blunt: people are strapped for cash, and scammers see that desperation as opportunity.
He added that “according to reports,” Americans are losing millions to these schemes. Whether it’s millions or “only” thousands at a time, the scary part is how many of these scams can hit you without you ever realizing you were targeted.
The “Fake Refund” Scam That Looks Like Customer Service
The first big example Snyder walked through was what he called the “fake refund scam.”
He described how it usually arrives: a text message or email that claims something like “your refund has been issued,” “your payment failed,” or “we owe you money.”
That message lands at the exact time of year when refunds, price adjustments, and shipping issues are actually common. That’s the whole trick.
Snyder read a passage describing the holiday shopping season as “rush hour” for scammers, and said the fake refund scam is hitting more inboxes and phones than ever.
His point was that scammers aren’t guessing blindly. They’re counting on the fact you’ve made multiple purchases and you might not remember every single charge, every receipt, or every shipping notification.
Here’s what makes this scam so effective: it doesn’t ask you for something huge right away.
It invites you to “confirm” a detail. Or “verify” your account. Or enter bank information to “process” the refund that you didn’t request.
Snyder described the angle that really hooks people: “We don’t have your bank account on file. Give it to us and we’ll send the money immediately.”
That is the moment where the scam flips. You think you’re receiving money, but you’re really handing over access.
In my opinion, this is one of the nastiest types of fraud because it uses your own optimism against you. People are more likely to act fast when they believe they’re getting money back.
The “Package On Hold” Trap That Feels Real
Snyder said he personally received a text claiming his package was on hold because he owed a tiny customs fee – he mentioned something like 70 to 78 cents.
That number is not an accident. A tiny amount feels harmless, like the kind of small fee you’d pay without thinking if you were already expecting a delivery.
Snyder basically said: if he actually had something coming through customs, he probably would have paid it.
That’s the danger. These scammers don’t need you to be careless. They only need you to be expecting a package, which is practically everyone in December.
Snyder also made an important point: in most cases, legitimate agencies don’t text you out of the blue demanding a quick payment to “unlock” a package.
But scammers lean hard into realism. They’ll use official-sounding language, a sense of urgency, and a link that looks like a shipping site.
In my view, the real risk isn’t just that you lose 78 cents. The risk is what happens after you click: the link can harvest personal data, logins, or card numbers.
The tiny charge is just the bait. The hook is what you type into the page.
The Jury Duty Scam That Terrifies People Into Paying
Snyder then shifted into a scam that runs on fear instead of excitement.
He played a clip from a person describing a call from someone claiming to be a sheriff’s deputy, saying the victim failed to appear for federal jury duty.
The caller, according to the story Snyder shared, claimed the target now had two misdemeanors and was facing jail time – unless they paid thousands of dollars in “citations” to clear it up.
Snyder said the person was so scared they told their boss they needed to go to the courthouse to avoid being arrested, and that’s when the boss recognized it as a scam.
Snyder’s reaction was pretty direct: nobody wants to go to jail, and plenty of people would rather pay $3,500 than risk being locked up.
That’s why the scam works. It leverages panic.
And Snyder explained the “discount version” of the same scam: if they can’t get $3,500, they might ask for a smaller “administrative fee” like $250 to $500.
To a scammer, that’s still a win if they run it over and over all day.
Snyder emphasized that these scammers can sound polite, professional, and helpful. That’s part of the manipulation.
They don’t always shout. They guide you gently into compliance, which is sometimes even more convincing.
The Timing Trick: Holidays Make People Easier Targets
Snyder also talked about timing – how scammers pick dates that fit your life.
He said one tactic is to claim your jury duty appearance date was right before Thanksgiving, like the Wednesday before the holiday.
That creates a believable excuse for the victim: “I was out of town,” or “I never got the mail,” or “I was busy.”
Snyder said that’s where scammers “get you,” because the story starts to feel plausible, and you start explaining yourself.
In my opinion, that’s another key detail people should remember: you don’t owe explanations to random callers.
Once you begin defending yourself, you’ve already stepped onto their stage. And they’re better at their script than most people realize.
The scam isn’t just the demand for money. The scam is the pressure to keep talking.
Gift Card “Draining” And The Shelf Scam Nobody Expects
Snyder then raised what he called a newer gift card scam known as “draining.”
He explained it in a way that’s simple and scary: scammers steal gift cards from stores, get the account information, reseal them, and put them back on the shelf.
Then an unsuspecting customer buys the card, activates it, and the scammer drains the money because they already captured the numbers.
Snyder played a clip referencing a man named Martin Pette, who bought a $50 Sephora gift card for his daughter at Walmart, and it turned out to have no money on it when she tried to use it.
Snyder said one warning sign is when the scratch-off area on the back has been tampered with – if the numbers are already exposed, don’t buy it.
That’s solid advice, but Snyder also pointed out the next-level problem: scammers are getting good at hiding the tampering.
He said the silver backing can be peeled off with something as simple as a razor, the numbers can be photographed, and the card can be returned to the shelf.
Then he described a more advanced version where scammers replace the scratch-off covering with a new one, making the card look untouched.
That’s the part that should make every shopper pause, because it means “just inspect it” might not always be enough.
In my opinion, gift cards are one of the worst “easy” gifts for this reason. They feel safe because they’re sold in big-name stores, but the product is basically a code in a cardboard sleeve.
And codes are easy to steal.
A Second Jury Scam Story Shows How Convincing It Can Sound
Later in the video, Snyder played another clip of a person describing a call from someone claiming to be a county sergeant.
In that story, the caller used the victim’s name, described “federal citations,” and made the scenario sound official.
The person even said they usually spot scams easily, but this one rattled them.
That detail matters. People tend to believe scams only work on “other people.”
Snyder’s point – without saying it in those exact words – was that smart, careful people still get fooled when the scam is built around real-world stress.
This kind of fraud doesn’t rely on stupidity. It relies on overload.
And in December, overload is basically the default setting.
Snyder’s Rule: Don’t Call Their Number – Look It Up Yourself
Toward the end, Snyder gave what might be the most practical tip of the entire video.
He said don’t call the number the scammers give you. Instead, go to Google, look up the real organization, and contact them through a verified number.
That sounds obvious, but it’s the difference between escape and loss.
Snyder used toll road scams as a personal example, saying he gets targeted a lot, especially in places like the Seattle area where tolls are common.
His larger warning was that most of the texts and emails people get – especially around the holidays – are likely scams.
That might sound pessimistic, but honestly, it’s a useful mindset in December. Treat unexpected messages like suspicious packages: handle carefully, don’t open them blindly, and confirm what they are before you bring them inside.
The Bigger Problem: Scammers Are Selling “Convenience”
What stood out in Snyder’s video is how often these scams disguise themselves as convenience.
A refund is convenient. A tiny customs fee is convenient. A quick “administrative fee” to clear a legal problem is convenient.
Scams don’t just steal money. They steal time, attention, and trust.
And when they succeed, they leave people embarrassed, which makes some victims less likely to report it or warn others.
That’s why these tactics keep spreading. They feed on silence.
If shoppers want one simple holiday survival strategy, it’s this: slow down.
Scammers move fast because they want you to move fast. If you give yourself even five minutes to verify a claim, most of these tricks fall apart.
And that may be the best defense of all – turning their urgency into your pause.
Gary’s love for adventure and preparedness stems from his background as a former Army medic. Having served in remote locations around the world, he knows the importance of being ready for any situation, whether in the wilderness or urban environments. Gary’s practical medical expertise blends with his passion for outdoor survival, making him an expert in both emergency medical care and rugged, off-the-grid living. He writes to equip readers with the skills needed to stay safe and resilient in any scenario.
