The holiday season is here, and with it comes discounted prices, limited-time merch and everything you need to find the perfect gifts for your friends and family. However, it also brings an increase in scammers trying to use the gift-giving season to steal your financial information. 

Here are a few ways to keep your money out of the hands of scammers.  

Avoid sketchy websites 

We all spend time trying to find the cheapest deal when gift shopping. However, sometimes that can lead shoppers to fraud websites or postings. Scammers may spoof a popular website, make a fake social media market post or create an entire fake business just to get your money. One way scammers drive traffic to these fraudulent sites is by offering a retail item far below market value. For example, they might offer new iPhones for $100 or high-powered laptops in the same price range. If the deal sounds too good to be true then chances are it is. 

Another way to find out if a website is a scam is by searching for authentic reviews on Google, YELP, reddit or other mainstream websites. It’s not a good idea to simply use the AI response to determine if a website is legit, as AI results can be easily modified by the scammers in question. 

Don’t let merchants save your payment info 

Even legit websites will ask to save your payment information at checkout. While the convenience may be tempting, consider declining anyway. The more businesses that have your payment information on file, the more exposed you are to fraud. Fraudsters and hackers can steal a business's records — and with them, your personal bank information. While business breaches aren't overly common, they do still happen consistently. Lower the chances of fraudsters getting your information by opting to manually input your payment details the next time you shop, especially if it’s with a business you don’t plan to use regularly. 

Watch out for “Win a Device” scams 

Every year, gift card scams pop up during the holiday season. Gift card scams often offer electronic and tech discounts to draw your attention. Fraudsters may claim that all you need to do is enter to win or send them a private message to be considered. The same is true for website pop-ups offering sweepstakes and last-minute chances to win expensive gifts or cash payouts. 

Don’t use public Wi-Fi when you shop 

Public Wi-Fi just isn’t as secure as a private network. Scammers can spoof real Wi-Fi connections to trick you into logging into their Wi-Fi so they can steal your banking information. Fraudsters can also hack into public Wi-Fi and intercept your data. Stop scammers in their tracks by not using public Wi-Fi to log in to your mobile banking app. 

Watch out for charity scams 

We're all a little more giving this time of year, and fraudsters can take advantage of that. Be sure to independently verify any communications you receive from unknown charities, as they could be fraudsters. Do not click links sent through email without researching the charity first. Reputable charities have a long history of donations and fundraisers that can be found online. 

Review transactions  

Between gift shopping, travel, general spending and unexpected expenses, the number of transactions completed increases during the holiday season — and that makes it easier for fraudsters to slip charges into your account without you noticing. 

Stay on top of your account by checking your transactions via mobile or desktop banking. Make sure the transaction amount and business match the purchase you’ve made. Even without the risk of fraud, this is a good practice to maintain, as sometimes merchants may accidentally double charge you or unexpected bills may throw your holiday budget into disarray. 

Beware confirmation emails 

Sure, every online merchant sends confirmation emails after a purchase. However, scammers can send false confirmation emails that encourage you to click a suspicious link or download an attachment to verify your order. If the link is clicked, scammers gain access to your computer and personal information. Before clicking any links, ask yourself if you recognize the merchant and dollar amount. 

Play it safe by checking your transaction list for the purchase in question, or research the merchant to find out if they’re legitimate. Fake confirmation emails can look similar to real ones. Both will list a long confirmation number, include links and list dollar amounts. 

However, you can reduce the chances of falling for a scam email by looking for the following. 

1. Email address and business name that don’t match, such as an order confirmation for Amazon from a Yahoo email. 

2. Misspellings, including both typos in the email and misspellings of a well-known business name — for example, Amaz0n instead of Amazon. 

3 Fear-based tactics, a common sign of any scam, using verbiage that encourages you to click a suspicious link to prevent your order from being cancelled, delayed or your account suspended. 

Double check QR codes before scanning them 

Fraudsters make use of QR codes to trick people into visiting their scam sites. Play it safe by not scanning QR codes you receive from unsolicited emails or texts and by taking a second look at QR codes posted on flyers around town. To avoid fraud, it’s better to get the name of the business in question and research them before scanning. 

How OCCU protects your information during the holiday season

OCCU’s dedicated fraud team and systems work around the clock to protect your personal information. During the holiday season, we further bolster our fraud defenses and frontline staff to ensure your information is secure and that in the event of fraud, our members have a support system to return their funds and stop further fraud from happening. You can help us keep your information safe by not clicking suspicious links and by doing due diligence before handing over your debit or credit card to a retailer. 

Stay safe this holiday season, and don’t hesitate to reach out to OCCU should your financial information become compromised.