As the holiday season brings a surge in shopping and charitable donations, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is warning residents to remain alert for scams. The latest caselog numbers from the Senior Protection from Exploitation Against Retirees (SPEAR Act) indicate that fraudulent activity continues to be widespread and is becoming more sophisticated during this period.
“Scammers don’t take holidays,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. “We’re working overtime to protect Georgians during the holidays, and our office is laser-focused on identifying and stopping the scammers.”
According to recent data, reports of suspected financial fraud are increasing. Georgia’s investment firms have reported 1,140 cases of attempted senior exploitation since the SPEAR Act took effect, with 81 victims identified in November 2025 alone.
Gift card fraud remains one of the most common threats. In a recent incident, a scammer compromised a Georgia charity’s email system and impersonated its Executive Director. The perpetrator instructed a staff member to purchase thousands of dollars in gift cards using the organization’s credit card on two occasions before a cashier noticed irregularities and stopped the transaction.
Other scams include “relative in distress” schemes, where criminals pretend to be family members urgently requesting money via text or social media. There has also been an increase in document fraud involving fake IDs, altered bank statements, and unauthorized credit checks.
Online shoppers are being targeted by non-delivery scams—where goods purchased never arrive—and by card-decline scams. In these situations, victims receive false notifications that their payment cards have been declined even though charges have already gone through; when they try another card, they end up being charged twice.
“Before you donate, do your research,” said Raffensperger. “Visit our website, CharityNavigator, or even ask a friend for their opinion. A second set of eyes can help avoid years of stress and regret. Don’t let yourself become the next victim.”
