Holiday Scams: Watch Out for Grinches!

We’re in the thick of the holiday season, so remember to stay vigilant and be wary of scammers. Each year, the holiday season is the busiest time for fraud. With an increase in consumers shopping online, scammers double their efforts to trick people into giving out their money and personal information. Please continue reading to find out more about these scams!

Online Shopping Scams:

Watch out for websites or social media campaigns that offer unbelievably low prices. This can lead to receiving counterfeit items, no product at all, or having personal information stolen.

Charity Scams:

Fake charities exploit people’s kindness during the holiday season. Scammers create fake organizations that claim to support good causes when the real motive is to steal your information and money.

Gift Card Scams:

Gift cards are a popular gift during the holidays and scammers know to take advantage of this. In 2024, a study done by the National Retail Federation found that 15% of their respondents had received a gift card with no funds.

Delivery Scam:

As holiday packages start going out scammers may send out phishing emails and texts pretending to be UPS, FedEx, Amazon, or USPS about incoming or missed deliveries. The links in these messages may lead to fraudulent websites requesting personal or account information.

It Might Be a Scam If:

• The offer sounds too good to be true—it usually is.
• Someone you don’t know contacts you unexpectedly.
• You’ve been asked to transfer money quickly—there is a lot of urgency behind the request.
• You’ve been asked to pay in an unusual way—gift cards, wire transfers, or third-party payment platforms (Venmo, CashApp, Zelle, etc.).
• You’ve been asked to provide personal information (passwords, pins, or social security number, etc.).
• A family member, or someone calling on behalf of a family member, says they are in need of help and need you to send them money.
• The person you are speaking with asks you to keep the conversation a secret.

 

 

 

How to Stay Safe:

• Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
• Do not click on unknown links or pop-up ads.
• Make sure to purchase items through official retail websites rather than third-party vendors.
• Use a credit card when making online purchases instead of a debit card.

 

If in doubt, please contact Intercity State Bank Branch of One Community Bank at 715-359-4231, or stop in at any of our locations.

Member FDIC.