You might be taking a holiday this winter season, but you know who isn’t? Scammers.
In fact, scam activity tends to spike this time of year. They know you’re busy with travel, family gatherings, and all the holiday prep, which is the perfect time for them to try to catch you off guard. Want to know what to keep an eye out for? We made a list to help you avoid getting any coal in your stocking!
- Fake charities that steal your money
During the holiday season, many of us feel more generous because it’s the season of giving. But here’s the catch: scammers are all about the season of getting! Fake charities, often using GoFundMe campaigns, are a top scam this time of year.
Before donating, research the charity and watch for “lookalike” links and don’t let anybody pressure you. Use this online tool to verify tax-exempt organizations, and if it’s a GoFundMe, research the group organizer’s background.
- Gift card scams
Gift card scams really ramp up during the holidays because scammers know these are popular gifts when you’re stuck on what to buy for friends and family. They love gift cards because once you purchase them, they’re almost impossible to trace, and your money is gone for good. Many scams involve selling or buying fraudulent gift cards, or tricking you into giving up the numbers on the backs of your cards.
- Lookalike online stores and ads with unrealistic discounts
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is! Scammers set up fake online stores and social media accounts, luring you in with ads offering incredible discounts on your favorite brands.
To avoid falling for these scams, watch for signs like steep discounts, poor spelling and grammar, low-quality photos, altered links, and missing company info like “About” pages or return addresses.
- Lookalike emails or texts posing as brands you trust.
Scammer pose as favorite brands to trick you into clicking on malicious links in emails or texts to steal your information. To protect yourself, check the sender's email address and make sure it matches the brand. Watch out for red flags like poor spelling and grammar, formatting issues, or suspicious link previews. Always hover over links before clicking, and if you're ever unsure, contact the company directly to verify.
- Shipping delay or missed delivery messages
During the holiday season, everyone wants their packages to arrive on time. Scammers know this and will send fake emails or texts claiming that your package is delayed, usually posing as Amazon, FedEx, or USPS. Their goal is to steal your personal information, ask for your credit card number, or trick you into sending them money.
Be sure to check the accuracy of website domains and email senders. If you’re ever in doubt, go directly to the official website of the delivery company and track your package using the correct tracking number.
- Holiday travel and online airfare scams
With holiday travel peaking this season, scammers are ready to lure you in with enticing airfare deals that seem too good to be true. If you come across discounts that look unreal, trust your instincts.
Once you “purchase” these tickets, you could end up facing unexpected charges or cancellations, only to find out that the ticket never existed in the first place. Always book through reputable sites, either directly on the airline’s website or through trusted third-party services linked to your credit card rewards.
- Mail and package theft
Mail theft increases during the holiday season. To keep your incoming mail safe, use mail tracker apps like USPS Informed Delivery or ShopPay to get previews of your packages and real-time updates on their locations. If you plan to be out of town, arrange for someone to collect your mail while you’re away.
- In-person scams like card skimming, shoulder surfing, and jugging
Be extra cautious of in-person scams like shoulder surfing, card skimming, and jugging. Shoulder surfing happens when someone stands close to you, trying to sneak a peek at your card info and PIN. Card skimming occurs when you insert your credit or debit card into a checkout machine that has a hidden device designed to capture your card information. To minimize the risk of theft, it's safer to tap your card for payments instead of swiping or inserting it.
Jugging is another serious concern; it involves someone following you from a store with the intent to rob you in the parking lot or steal your belongings once you arrive at your destination. Stay aware of your surroundings, and if you notice someone following you, don't hesitate to call the police.
If you think you’ve been scammed this holiday season, we’re here to help. The sooner you reach out, the better your chances are of getting your money back. Remember, it is only considered a fraudulent charge when you didn’t authorize a purchase and had no clue it was made.
- Lock Your Cards: Make sure to lock your debit and credit cards to prevent any further unauthorized charges.
- Report the Fraud: Contact us or any financial institution or credit card lender you use right away.
- Freeze Your Credit: Consider freezing your credit report to keep scammers from accessing your credit lines or stealing your identity.
- File a Report: Visit identitytheft.gov to file an official report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If you have any information about the scammers, make sure to file a police report with local authorities.
- Secure your accounts and devices: Update all your passwords and run a scan on your computer using firewall software to check for any malware——software that scammers may use to gain access to your device.
Want more tips like this? Visit our Fraud and Security Center for more resources.
About Members Choice Credit Union
At Members Choice, we strive to exceed your expectations. We believe in people-helping-people by providing sound financial solutions and resources, as well as sharing our passion for supporting the community. As a full-service financial institution based in Houston, Texas, we have proudly served the West Houston, Katy, and Cy-Fair areas for more than 80 years. For more information, visit www.mccu.com.
