Holiday Shopping Scams: 7 Ways to Protect Your Money
Holiday shopping is supposed to be fun – not stressful! Between online deals, delivery notifications and last-minute purchases, it can be easy to let your guard down. Scammers know that too!
Fake websites, phony shipping messages and deals that look a little too good can quickly turn your holiday shopping into a costly mistake.
Here are seven ways to help protect your money this holiday season.
1) Shop From Trusted Websites
Before entering payment information, make sure you are shopping on a legitimate website. Scammers often create fake online stores that look similar to well-known retailers.
Check the website address carefully and be cautious of unfamiliar sites offering unusually large discounts.
2) Be Careful with Deals That Seem Too Good to Be True
Deep discounts on popular or hard-to-find products can be a warning sign.
Before buying from an unfamiliar retailer, research the company, check reviews and confirm that the website is legitimate.
3) Avoid Clicking Unexpected Shopping Links
Holiday scams often arrive through email, text messages or social media ads with special deals, package updates or limited-time offers.
Instead of clicking an unexpected link, go directly to the retailer’s website or app to verify the offer.
4) Watch for Fake Delivery Notifications
Scammers often send fake delivery messages claiming there is a problem with a shipment.
These messages may ask you to click a link, pay a fee or provide personal information.
Verify the shipment details directly through the retailer or delivery company’s official website.
5) Use Secure Payment Methods
Be cautious if a seller asks you to pay by gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer or another payment method that is difficult to reverse.
Instead, use secure payment options whenever possible and regularly review your Union Federal account activity for anything that you do not recognize.
6) Protect Your Passwords and Personal Information
Use strong, unique passwords for your shopping and financial accounts, and enable multifactor authentication when available.
Never provide your online banking password, PIN or security code in response to an unexpected email, text or phone call. Union Federal will never contact you and ask you to share sensitive information.
7) Monitor Your Accounts
Review your bank and credit card transactions regularly during the holiday season and report anything suspicious as soon as possible.
Union Federal customers can also use online and mobile banking tools to stay connected to accounts and monitor activity more easily.
Slow Down Before You Buy
Scammers often rely on urgency – “today only”, “limited supply” and “act now” – to get shoppers to make quick decisions. Before clicking, purchasing or sharing information, take a moment to verify the offer or seller.
If you notice suspicious activity or believe your information has been compromised, contact Union Federal as soon as possible.
One simple step you can take today: Check account activity often and make sure all of your contact information is up to date. And if something doesn’t look right, reach out to Union Federal. We’re always here to help you take a closer look and determine the next steps.
