Fraudsters love the holidays because it’s their big opportunity to exploit the surge in shopping, travel, and online activity with various scams, including fake online stores, phishing emails, fraudulent charity appeals, and package delivery scams.
One prevalent scam involves counterfeit e-commerce websites offering attractive deals on popular items. These sites lure consumers with too-good-to-be-true prices, but victims either never receive the goods or receive counterfeit products. To avoid falling for these scams, always verify the legitimacy of unfamiliar websites by checking customer reviews, looking for secure payment options, and ensuring the URL starts with “https.”
Phishing emails are another major risk, with scammers impersonating reputable companies to steal personal or financial information. Be cautious when clicking on links in unsolicited emails or texts, especially those requesting sensitive data. Verify the sender’s identity by contacting the company directly through official channels.
Charity scams also spike during the holidays, with fraudsters taking advantage of people’s generosity. Before donating, research the charity on trusted platforms like Charity Navigator to ensure your contributions go to legitimate organizations.
Lastly, be wary of package delivery scams, where criminals send fake shipping notifications to steal personal information. Always track shipments through the official website of the carrier.
To protect yourself during the holiday season, use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and monitor your accounts regularly for suspicious activity. Awareness and vigilance are key to avoiding holiday scams and keeping your personal information secure.
Alpine Bank takes your financial security seriously, additional fraud and prevention resources can be found here.
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