With holiday shopping in full swing, you’re no doubt receiving all kinds of tempting promotions and special offers in your inbox. While the savings and deals are real, it’s good to be aware of shopping scams so that you can avoid them. Here’s everything you need to know to avoid being duped this holiday season:
- When shopping online, don't be fooled by look-alike or spoofed websites, as they can contain malware that captures sensitive information. Never share your personal details on a site whose authenticity you can’t verify and look for https in the web address and lock symbol on the left side of the URL.
- With significant online orders, fraudsters can use fake shipping confirmation emails as their hook, containing a link or attachment with malware. If you receive an email claiming there’s been a problem with the delivery of your purchases, it wouldn't hurt to call that business and talk with a representative to get a better understanding of what might have occurred. Delivery delays can be a legitimate problem, especially during the holiday season, but there is no harm in confirming with the business.
- Scammers recognize the holidays as a popular giving season, so beware of fake emails, social media sites or text messages promoting phony charities looking for donations. It is important to recognize the warning signs of charity scams in order for you not to be robbed of your good intentions.
- Watch out for vendors or retailers requesting payment in the form of prepaid cards, money orders, wire transfers or a third-party. These types of payment are typically not traceable and offer less protection.
- When shopping in person, remain aware of your surroundings and be on the lookout for ATM tampering or suspicious activity.
How We Can Help
At ACU of Texas, we take your safety seriously. We offer a variety of products and services with your security in mind.
Be sure to check out our Fraud Center, filled with great resources to help keep yourself protected.
