Every year, generosity spikes. And every year, scammers count on it.

In this episode, we uncover the true history of Christmas scams—from fake charity collectors roaming 19th-century streets, to counterfeit Sears catalogs that stole holiday money before the internet even existed, to mall Santas who vanished with family photo payments, and investment schemes that preyed on year-end bonuses.

These aren’t modern crimes. They’re timeless cons, repackaged for each generation.

We break down how scammers exploit holiday emotions, why December is the most profitable month for fraud, and how the same psychological tricks used a hundred years ago are still draining wallets today—just with better graphics and faster payment methods.

If you think Christmas scams are a “new problem,” this episode will change how you see the holidays forever.