‘TIS THE SEASON FOR HOLIDAY SCAMS
The holidays are a fun, hectic time. Unfortunately, scammers use this to their advantage.
Avoid becoming a fraud victim to keep your holiday season merry and bright.
Check out the Newsletter here!
5 SCAMS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:
CHARITY DONATION SCAMS
Lookout for:
- Lack of details on charity
- Requires alternate payment
- Pressure to give
Protect Yourself:
- Research for legitimacy
- Donate directly through website, not links
- If in doubt, don’t donate
HOLIDAY JOB SCAMS
Lookout for:
- Jobs that don’t require interviews
- Offers big pay for little work
- Training fees
Protect Yourself:
- Never pay to get a job or give into promises
- Never give personal information up front
- Always request an offer letter or written confirmation
GIFT CARD SCAMS
Lookout for:
- Popular retailer gift cards at steep discounts
- PIN area scratched off prior to purchase
- Offers in social media ads or email links
Protect Yourself:
- Buy directly from retailer
- Be cautious of discounted gift cards
- Examine for tampered gift card
- Keep record of receipt after using gift card online
ONLINE SHOPPING SCAMS
Lookout for:
- Too good to be true deals
- Same product showing on ads from different places
- Websites with no contact information
- Low-quality graphics or typos in ads
Protect Yourself:
- Buy directly from retailer’s official website
- Be cautious clicking into ads on social media
- Research unfamiliar companies
SHIPPING NOTIFICATION SCAMS
Lookout for:
- Delivery notifications of items never purchased
- Email or texts with links to reschedule deliveries
- Door tags regarding missed deliveries
Protect Yourself:
- Call carrier to verify suspicious notifcations
- Avoid clicking on links in emails or text messages
- Never give out personal information
SAFEGUARD YOUR HOLIDAY SPENDING
As you make holiday purchases, it is important to keep financial accounts protected. Visa® alerts help identify and prevent fraudulent transactions on your FMFCU Debit Card. Ensure you and only you are making these transactions.
Visa® Purchase Alerts
Know where your money is going. Get alerts for transactions in real-time by text or email.
Alerts include:
- Transaction from outside of U.S.
- Set purchase amount threshold is reached or exceeded
- Transaction made online or by phone
- Transaction declined
Visa® Falcon Fraud Alerts
Receive alerts if fraud is suspected on your debit card.
Alerts include:
- Texts to authorize or unauthorize transactions
- Option to receive call alerts
- Account can be blocked if fraud is suspected
- Continual monitoring of card activity