Stay Safe This Holiday Season: How to Spot and Avoid Holiday Scams and Fraud

The holiday season is a time for celebration, generosity, and shopping—but unfortunately, it’s also prime time for scammers to strike. Fraudsters take advantage of the busy season, luring people with deals too good to be true, charitable scams, and fake deliveries. Protecting yourself with financial education and fraud awareness is essential. In this post, we’ll explore four common holiday scams and provide fraud protection tips to keep your money and personal information safe.

Online Shopping Scams

What It Is: Fraudulent websites and social media ads offer enticing holiday deals, especially on high-demand products. You place an order, but your package never arrives—or worse, your personal information is stolen.

How to Avoid It:

• Stick to trusted websites. Look for “https” in the URL and a padlock icon to ensure the site is secure.
• Verify sellers. Check reviews and customer feedback on independent sites, not just the seller’s page.
• Use secure payment methods. Avoid paying via wire transfers or gift cards, which are harder to trace.
• Monitor your bank account. Keep an eye on transactions so you can quickly spot unauthorized charges.
  

Charity Scams

What It Is: Scammers pretend to represent charitable organizations and ask for donations, often targeting people’s goodwill during the holidays. Some even impersonate legitimate charities, making it difficult to detect fraud.

How to Avoid It:

• Research the charity. Use sites like Charity Navigator or GuideStar to confirm the legitimacy of organizations.
• Be cautious with phone solicitations. Never donate over the phone unless you initiate the call.
• Donate directly through official websites. Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails or social media messages.
• Keep records. Track your donations and verify that they are tax-deductible if applicable.

Package Delivery Scams

What It Is: With the boom in online shopping, fake delivery notifications or phishing emails have become common. Scammers send messages claiming there’s an issue with a package and trick you into providing personal information or clicking malicious links.

How to Avoid It:

• Don’t click on unexpected links. If you receive a suspicious text or email, go directly to the shipping company’s website to track your package.
• Enable tracking alerts. Use official tracking tools from reputable delivery companies to stay informed about your deliveries.
• Watch for red flags. Beware of misspelled company names, suspicious email addresses, or links directing you to strange URLs.
• Report suspicious messages. Contact the shipping company directly if you’re unsure about the notification’s authenticity.
  

Gift Card Scams

What It Is: Scammers may convince victims to buy gift cards as a form of payment or claim that a loved one needs financial help urgently. Fraudsters then ask for the gift card information, leaving victims with no way to recover their money.

How to Avoid It:

• Never pay with gift cards. If someone asks for gift card payments, it’s likely a scam.
• Inspect cards in-store. Ensure that gift cards haven’t been tampered with, such as exposed PIN numbers.
• Only purchase from authorized retailers. Avoid buying gift cards from third-party sellers or auction sites.
• Report it immediately. If you’re a victim of a gift card scam, contact the retailer where the card was purchased and report the fraud.
• Protect Yourself This Holiday Season

Financial scams are evolving, and the best defense is staying informed. Practicing good financial education and learning the warning signs of scams can protect you from becoming a victim. At Lake Ridge Bank, we’re committed to providing resources to keep our customers safe from fraud and holiday scams. If you suspect suspicious activity in your account, contact us immediately for assistance.

By staying vigilant, you can enjoy a safe and stress-free holiday season. For more tips on fraud protection, visit our website or speak with a Lake Ridge Bank representative today.