The Christmas lights are glowing and the treats are flowing. But with all the festive fun comes a flurry of extra online shopping and last-minute plans. So it’s no surprise that scams, fraud, identity risks and in-person safety concerns tend to spike right alongside the mince pies.
That’s where your Digital ID can come in. A trusted, privacy-friendly way to prove who you are (and check who others are) can make all the difference. Here’s how your Digital ID can help you keep things merry and bright this Christmas.
Verify someone before you meet or trade
Hunting for second-hand gems? Arranging a face-to-face pickup for a last-minute gift? The festive rush is prime time for fraudsters. When buying gifts from individual sellers, people in community groups or online marketplaces, it makes sense to verify that the seller genuinely is who they say they are.
Before you meet someone in person, you can request their verified details through the app’s peer-to-peer feature. Exchanging details adds a layer of confidence to situations that might otherwise feel a little uncertain, especially on darker evenings or when schedules are hectic.
Alternatively, you could ask the seller to verify their identity with a quick Verified Call. Using secure liveness and ID checks, a Verified Call makes sure the person you’re talking to is genuine, helping to protect you from scams or deepfakes. In just a few minutes, you can confirm their identity – and you can even ask to see the item too. It’s an easy way to feel confident you’re meeting the right person.
What to do: Confirm their identity via a Verified Call. Or swap verified details using the app’s peer-to-peer feature.
Shop without oversharing
Christmas shopping often means sharing personal information with lots of different organisations – even when they don’t actually need to know very much about you at all.
Using a physical ID means unnecessarily handing over sensitive data like full addresses or identity document numbers. With your Yoti app, you can share only the details needed. You’re able to select exactly which information to display on your Yoti ID card. Picking up a parcel, for example, shouldn’t mean showing your date of birth. All they really need to see is your name, photo and (in some cases) that you’re over a required age threshold.
This selective, consent-based sharing can reduce the risks of identity theft and impersonation scams that tend to spike during the festive rush, helping you stay in control during the busiest buying days of the year.
What to do: Share only the exact details a business needs using your Digital ID.
Simplify your plans whilst protecting your details
Christmas plans can get chaotic, often requiring swapping addresses and phone numbers across multiple group chats. Instead of having your details passed around by other people through social apps, you can instead send your information privately and securely. It works a treat for organising gatherings and coordinating Christmas parties.
What to do: Only share chosen details through the peer-to-peer feature, helping you stay in control of who has your information and where it’s being posted.
Keep your loved ones scam-savvy
Sadly, scammers take advantage of the generous, busy spirit of the Christmas period. It’s during this time that they target older or more vulnerable people, with cold calls, delivery scams, fake charity requests and impersonation messages becoming much more common.
Showing family how verified details should look and how to check them properly can make a huge difference. A Digital ID helps build safer digital habits, which makes it easier to spot suspicious messages and avoid fraudulent requests. By encouraging relatives to use secure verification tools, families can help them avoid the kinds of simple but devastating scams that exploit trust and festive generosity.
Peer-to-peer checks can also add peace of mind when arranging visits from tradespeople or seasonal helpers. Being able to check verified details before someone arrives at the door can make home visits feel much safer.
What to do: Speak to your relatives about how to look out for scams and show them how peer-to-peer checks can help them stay confident and safe.
Make giving back even easier
Christmas is one of the biggest volunteering seasons of the year, with food bank drives, charity collections, community events and local support groups all in need of helpers. But verifying identity can slow things down during an already busy time.
A Digital ID helps volunteers prove who they are quickly and securely, without sending scans of documents by email, which carries privacy and security risks. It helps organisations move faster while keeping sensitive data protected.
What to do: If accepted, use your Digital ID for secure volunteer verification.
Small tweaks, big peace of mind
Before the celebrations kick off, it’s worth taking a moment to give your account a quick security check. Alongside a host of other security measures, your Digital ID uses encrypted storage and biometric authentication for safe use. Therefore, taking a couple of minutes to ensure your app is secured can go a long way in keeping your identity protected throughout the festive fun (and all year round!).
What to do: Enable biometric login, make sure the app is updated and ensure your device is safely locked .
A safer Christmas starts with a Digital ID
The festive season should be a time filled with connection and celebration, not stress about scams, dodgy interactions or misplaced documents. Your Digital ID gives you a simple, trusted way to protect your privacy and build confidence in your online and in-person interactions.
By using secure verification tools (and encouraging your friends and family to do the same), you can help to create a safer, more joyful Christmas for everyone. If you want to know more about our Digital IDs, get in touch. Or, you can download your Digital ID on iOS or Android.
