Holiday Scams - It’s good to be a giver… but not to the wrong people!

Scammers like to use the holiday season to grab your gold (or gelt) in new and inventive ways. Just keep an eye out for these scams and make the suggested moves to ensure your money goes exactly where you want it to go.

Fake Ads

They’ll post professional-looking ads on social media for popular items hoping you’ll click the link to a phony website designed to steal your payment information and your identity. They may use wording like “limited-time only” to create a feeling of urgency. 

• Don’t fall for it. Instead of clicking their link, go to the brand’s official website to find your item. Trust your instincts if it seems too good to be real.

Gift Card Scams

First, the scammer will devise a phony emergency such as a loved one needing money to get home or they’ve been the victim of a theft. You’ll be asked to buy gift cards and send the codes to someone to “save” your person. Once you share the code, your money is gone.

• Call or text your person to see if the need is real, just to put yourself at ease. The scammer will try to keep you on the phone, but that’s a ruse. Hang up.

Holiday Getaways

Scammers clone websites offering genuine-looking trips and lodging to draw you in. When you reach out, they’ll text or email you and try to get a deposit plus personal information from your ID or credit card. When you show up, someone else is already there, or the place isn’t even for rent!

• Don’t let the hope of a discount spur you to a hasty decision. Run your own search for the legitimate rental company/owner and send an inquiry through the real website.

If you worry that someone has taken advantage of your holiday generosity, call us at 800.944.2200 or login to online or mobile banking to send us a message.

Learn more about Fraud Prevention in our Security Center.