Be Fraud Vigilant When Shopping for Gifts

The biggest shopping days of the year are right around the corner, and there are specific schemes fraudsters enact to steal holiday joy. As holiday shopping ramps up online for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it's important to stay alert-scammers are looking for ways to take advantage of the increased traffic.

During Cyber Week 2024-the period from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday-over 124 million Americans made online purchases, totaling a record $41.1 billion. More than half of Americans shopped either online or in person during this time.

• As you prepare for holiday shopping, we encourage you to stay safe online:
• Buy from trusted websites to avoid fraudulent sellers.
• Use secure Wi-Fi when making purchases to protect your personal information.
• Watch out for package delivery scams, which often spike during the holiday season.

Scammers often create fake websites to lure shoppers with eye-catching discounts. To help protect your personal and financial information, WCF and the IBA recommend these smart shopping tips:

• Shop Directly from Official Websites: Instead of clicking links in emails or social media posts, type the company's official URL into your browser and shop directly.
• Watch for Red Flags: Misspellings in the web address, poor grammar, or overly flashy designs can signal a fraudulent site.
• Verify Discounts: Cyber Week deals are great, but if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Compare the offer to typical market prices before you buy.
• Check for Key Details: Legitimate retailers provide information like an "About" page, shipping details, and return policies. If these are missing, consider shopping elsewhere.

Be Aware of Delivery Scams

With millions of packages arriving at doorsteps every day, scammers are taking advantage by sending fake delivery notifications that link to malicious websites. These links are designed to steal personal and financial information. During the busy holiday season, when online shopping and deliveries surge, these scams can look and sound very convincing.

As your trusted financial partner, we want to help you stay safe. Here are key tips to protect yourself:

• The package was unexpected: If you receive a text or email about a delivery you weren't expecting, don't click any links. Delete the message immediately. Scammers hope you'll assume it's related to a recent order.
• You never signed up for notifications: If you get an unsolicited delivery alert, verify it by contacting the delivery company directly. Check the official communication policies of the carrier to confirm what's legitimate.
• Requests for personal information: Delivery companies will never ask for personal details or payment information to complete a delivery. If a message requests this, it's a scam.

Your security matters to us. Stay cautious, and when in doubt, reach out to us or the delivery company before taking action.