Don’t Let Scammers Steal Your Holiday Cheer

No matter what you're shopping for this holiday season, it is important to exercise caution. Scammers are especially active during these times, looking for unsuspecting shoppers. Whether you are looking for a hard-to-find gift, purchasing holiday desserts, or making charitable contributions, watch out for these common holiday scams:

“You've won a prize!” You may receive an email or text message claiming you have won a gift card or been invited to an exclusive holiday sale or giveaway; however, upon responding, you are asked to provide your banking information to claim the offer.

“Your package is undeliverable.” A text message or email may contain a fraudulent shipping notification, stating that a package is scheduled to be returned. If the link provided is clicked, it may result in malware installation or data theft.

Real donations to fake charities. Fraudsters may pose as representatives of holiday charities or gift programs, seeking donations with the aim of accessing your bank account information.

The more you know what to look for, the less chance that a scammer will ruin your holiday.

Four ways to avoid a holiday gift scam:

1. Be skeptical of social media ads. When the season's impossible-to-find gift conveniently appears in your social media feed, watch out.
2. Research before you buy. If you buy something from an unknown website, check for contact information and a working customer service number.
3. Never pay using gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps, or crypto. Only scammers ask you to pay using these methods.
4. Never reply with personal information to an email or text. Legitimate businesses don't ask for information this way.

For additional safety tips and current scam information, click here.