Mother’s Day Shopping Scams Are on the Rise: What to Watch For

Mother’s Day is one of the biggest gift-giving occasions of the year, and this year is expected to be no exception. Analysts project record spending in 2026, with more consumers turning to online deals, social media ads, and mobile shopping than ever before. Unfortunately, that same surge in shopping activity also attracts scammers looking to cash in on the rush.

Already, news outlets such as WREX have reported an uptick in fraudulent schemes tied to the holiday—fake websites, phishing emails that appear to come from well-known retailers, and counterfeit gift card offers. Knowing how these scams work can help you avoid losing money or handing over sensitive personal information.

What’s Happening

Scammers follow the calendar. They know that Mother’s Day shoppers are often in a hurry, looking for last‑minute gifts or chasing steep discounts. Common schemes this year include:

  • Fake online stores. Scammers create convincing websites that mimic trusted brands, offering “too good to be true” prices on popular items like jewelry, handbags, and flowers. After you place an order, the site either takes your money and disappears or sends a cheap knock‑off.
  • Phishing emails and texts. You might receive an email that looks like it’s from a major retailer, telling you about a limited‑time Mother’s Day sale or asking you to confirm a delivery. The link leads to a fake login page designed to steal your password or credit card number.
  • Gift card scams. Fraudsters may sell discounted gift cards on social media or third‑party marketplaces. Many of these cards are counterfeit or have already been drained of their value.

The FBI has warned in previous years that holiday‑themed phishing and shopping fraud increase significantly around major spending events, and Mother’s Day 2026 appears to follow that pattern.

Why It Matters

For parents and caregivers, losing money to a scam is frustrating enough. But the real danger often goes beyond the immediate financial loss. When you enter your credit card information or login credentials on a fraudulent site, you risk identity theft, unauthorized charges, and compromised accounts that can take months to resolve.

The average loss per victim in online shopping scams varies, but even a relatively small amount—$50 or $100—adds up when thousands of shoppers are targeted. Worse, if a scammer gets your email password, they can attempt to access other accounts that use the same credentials.

What You Can Do Right Now

Protecting yourself doesn’t require advanced technical skills, just a few simple habits:

1. Verify the retailer before you buy

  • Type the store’s URL directly into your browser instead of clicking a link from an email or social media ad.
  • Look for reviews from multiple sources—not just testimonials on the site itself.
  • Check for a physical address and customer service phone number. If you can’t find one, be cautious.

2. Spot phishing attempts

  • Be suspicious of urgent language like “Act now” or “Your order has a problem” in unsolicited emails.
  • Hover over links (without clicking) to see the actual web address. If it looks unusual or has misspellings, don’t click.
  • Never enter personal information on a page you reached through an email link. Go directly to the retailer’s website.

3. Use secure payment methods

  • Credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards or wire transfers.
  • Avoid paying with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or peer‑to‑peer apps unless you know exactly who you’re dealing with.

4. Watch for red flags in deals

  • If a discount seems impossibly high—say, 80% off a luxury handbag—it’s almost certainly a scam.
  • Check the website’s domain age using a free WHOIS lookup; very young domains are more likely to be fraudulent.

5. If you think you’ve been scammed

  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to dispute the charge and request a new card.
  • Change any passwords you may have entered on the fraudulent site.
  • Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your local police if you lost money.

Sources

  • WREX: “Watch for Mother’s Day shopping scams amid record spending” (May 7, 2026) – local news report highlighting the increase in fraudulent activity.
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC): General guidance on holiday shopping scams and phishing.

Staying alert this Mother’s Day doesn’t mean you can’t find a great gift—it just means taking a few extra seconds to check before you click. A little caution now can save you from a headache later.