Holiday Scams

Around the holidays, scams become more commonplace. Shopping, sending and receiving packages, and traveling make us vulnerable to thieves who can turn the yuletide season from fun to frustrating. Here are a few tips to keep your money and personal information safe.

Holiday Shopping Dos and Don’ts

When shopping online:

• DO stick to shopping websites you know and trust.
• DO look for "https" at the start of an online store's URL.      
• DO monitor your account activity regularly.
• DON’T use public Wi-Fi to make your purchases.
• DON’T use the same username and password on multiple accounts.
• DON’T buy gift cards from online auction sites.
• DON’T hesitate to contact your bank or credit card company if you suspect fraud.

When shopping in person:

• DO check the merchant's name and transaction amount before tapping to pay.
• DO keep your purse and wallet close to your body.
• DO use an RFID-blocking wallet or card sleeve for your debit and credit card.
• DON’T reveal a great deal of cash when paying for purchases.
• DON’T leave purchases visible in your car.
• DON’T let your phone or other distractions keep you from paying attention to your surroundings.

Holiday Phishing Scams

The holidays offer an opportunity for scammers to send “phishing” emails, in which they pretend to represent companies like FedEx and UPS. A fake email or text regarding a package delivery is designed to lure you to a fraudulent webpage to share personal information. Take these steps to avoid becoming the victim of a delivery phishing scam:

• Don’t click links in unsolicited texts or emails: If you receive an email about a package you’re not expecting, don’t click any links.
• Look for red flags: Read the email for typos or mismatched email addresses. These are signs of phishing attempts.
• Contact the shipping company directly: If you are expecting a package, contact the shipping company using a phone number or website you know is real. Don’t use the information in the text message or email.
• Contact the retailer directly: If you did purchase an item for delivery, go to the site where you bought the item and review the shipping and delivery status there.
• Obtain tracking information: When you make your purchase, obtain tracking numbers for the items so you can follow the delivery process.
• "Brushing" Scam - A person receives packages or parcels containing various sorts of items which were not ordered or requested by the recipient. While the package may be addressed to the recipient, there is not a return address, or the return address could be that of a retailer. The sender of the item(s) is usually an international, third-party seller who has found the recipient’s address online. The intention is to get the recipient to scan a QR code to learn who may have sent this unexpected gift.  This QR code typically leads to a fraudulent or malicious site.  

Charity Scams

Many of us give to charity during the holidays, and scammers take advantage of our generosity to steal funds and personal information. Beware of these warning signs to avoid losing money to a charity scam:

• Requests for cash, wire transfers or gift card donations
• Requests for personal information, such as your Social Security Number
• Web addresses that end with a series of numbers
• Pressure tactics
• Typos, misspellings, and strange grammar in email requests

If you have doubts about the legitimacy of a charity request, take some time to research. Websites such as Give.org and CharityNavigator.org can help you determine which organizations you can trust with your donations.

Holiday Travel Scams

Whether you’re searching online for discounted airline tickets or sightseeing at a crowded tourist attraction, holiday travel offers another opportunity for thieves to steal your money and personal information. Beware of these common travel scams:

• Deeply discounted airline tickets. Websites and marketplace sellers offer tickets at deep discounts, only to contact you later with a demand for extra fees.
• Fake flight cancellation emails. Scammers impersonate airline officials, send fake flight cancellation emails, and request payment information to allow you to book a new flight.
• Digital pickpocketing. Scammers tap a mobile point-of-sale device against the wallet of a tourist to initiate a payment. This is most easily done in crowded areas.

Beware of Scams Targeting the Elderly

Older adults are frequently the target of scammers, possibly because they are perceived to have significant savings, and because they may be more trusting and less tech-savvy than younger people. Here are some of the most common elder scams to be aware of:

Cryptocurrency scams - Scammers use dating apps, messaging apps, social media and other communications to build relationships and then share their “expertise” on investments, promising large returns, and even showing fake profit reports to encourage more investment. The fraudulent companies then typically vanish before investors receive their money.

Romance scams – Criminals create fake online identities to gain the trust of the victim. The scammer then uses the phony relationship to manipulate the victim into sending money. A variation of this scam is the celebrity impostor scam, in which victims are tricked into believing they have developed a friendship or romantic relationship with a famous person, who eventually needs financial assistance.

Tech support scams – These scams begin with a pop-up message stating that your computer has a virus and providing a link or phone number for technical support. Once you make contact, the thieves request remote access to your computer, giving them the ability to obtain your personal information and install malware.

Card declined scams – This type of fraud usually takes place after you have been lured to a fake website. When you attempt to make a purchase, the site displays a "card declined" message, although the transaction was processed and your credit card details were sent to the scammer. Since you were told the card was declined, you enter details for another card, giving the thief access to even more financial information. Check with your bank directly if you receive a message that your card was declined.

Government impostor scams - Fraudsters can make their phone numbers appear to come from a federal agency phone number to fool elderly targets. The scammers make a false claim, such as an unpaid tax bill or traffic ticket, a warrant for your arrest, or a problem with your Social Security Number. They urge you to make a payment using cash, a wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or even gold bars, to resolve your problem or protect your assets. If you receive an unexpected call or text from someone claiming to represent a government agency, do not provide personal or financial information, and do not give them any of your assets. 

Grandparent scams - Thieves take advantage of the elderly by impersonating the target’s grandchild or another close relative. The fake relative claims to be in a crisis situation, such as an accident or arrest, and asks for financial help right away. Artificial intelligence has made these scams even more convincing, since thieves can create video or audio impersonating the victim’s loved one. Although the caller will convey a sense of urgency, it’s best to take some time, reach out to your relative directly, and investigate further before sending money.

Please remember that if a call or email sounds urgent, threatening, or too good to be true, it's probably a scam. Don’t panic. Talk with someone that you trust. Take some time and do some research before moving, spending, or sending any funds as a result of an unexpected request. Hang up on unsolicited calls and don’t respond to unsolicited emails.

Whether you’re traveling across the country or just using your laptop in the living room, remaining vigilant, staying aware of common fraud tactics, and monitoring your accounts for suspicious activity will help prevent you from becoming a victim of fraud during the holiday season.

If you suspect that your 1st Colonial debit card, credit card, or bank account has been compromised, please contact us immediately at 1-877-785-8550. Thank you.