The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for shopping, both online and in stores. Unfortunately, it’s also a prime opportunity for scammers looking to take advantage of distracted shoppers.
Whether you're checking off your gift list online, responding to delivery notifications or taking advantage of holiday deals, it's important to stay alert and protect your personal and financial information.
Keep these 5 tips in mind to help make your holiday shopping safer and more secure.
1. Think Before You Share Personal Information
Before making an online purchase, take a moment to consider what information you're being asked to provide. Only enter personal or financial details on trusted, secure websites, and be cautious of unfamiliar retailers or websites offering deals that seem too good to be true. Never share sensitive information simply because a website, email or message requests it.
2. Watch Out for Suspicious Calls, Texts and Emails
Scammers often pose as retailers, delivery companies or financial institutions to trick consumers into sharing personal information or clicking fraudulent links. If you receive a suspicious call, text or email, don't respond or click on any links. Instead, contact the company directly using the official customer service number on your card or the contact information listed on its legitimate website. Never use a phone number or link provided in a suspicious message.
3. Pay Attention to Your Card Fraud Alerts
Fraud alerts from your financial institution can help you identify potentially unauthorized transactions. If you receive an alert for a purchase you don't recognize, follow the instructions to confirm the transaction as fraud. If you're unsure whether a transaction is legitimate, contact your financial institution directly. Never confirm a transaction as legitimate if you don't recognize it.
4. Check Your Credit Report Regularly
Monitoring your credit report is another important way to help protect yourself from identity theft. We recommend reviewing your credit report at least once a year through one of the three major credit reporting agencies – Experian, Equifax or TransUnion – or by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com, the official website for requesting free credit reports.
5. Secure Your Phone and Financial Apps
Your smartphone holds a lot of personal and financial information, so keeping it secure is essential. Always sign out of financial apps when you're finished using them, and enable additional security features whenever possible, such as a PIN, facial recognition or fingerprint authentication. These extra precautions can make it more difficult for someone to access your financial information if your phone is lost, stolen or compromised.
Shop Smart. Stay Alert. Enjoy the Season!
A little extra caution can go a long way toward protecting your finances during the holiday season. By staying alert, recognizing potential scams and taking steps to secure your personal information, you can shop with greater confidence and focus on what matters most this time of year.
