โTis the season to beโฆ scammed? The holidays are a time for joy, but scammers see them as a prime opportunity to target unsuspecting victims. With online shing, gift-giving, and charitable donations on the rise, itโs more important than ever to stay vigilant.
To keep you and your money safe this holiday season, weโd like to remind you of the types of fraud that are on the rise and what you can do to keep your finances extra wrapped up this season.
- Gift card scams
Budgets can become tight when finding gifts for your loved ones, so any financial relief is welcomed. You may, however, come across emails or pop-up ads offering free gift cards. Be wary of these tempting opportunities. They are often a ploy to collect your personal information that can be later used to steal your identity.
If the opportunity is real, youโll never have to enter sensitive information to claim the gift card.
- Charity Scams
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) warns of delivery notification scam calls and texts. These text messages and calls look like theyโre from a legitimate mail or package courier, such as the US Postal Service, and include a fake tracking link. The link will lead you to a website to enter personal information, or it will install malware, software designed to gain unauthorized access, on your phone or computer. The malware will then start stealing your information.
Before donating, always research the charity. Never donate money by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. Using a credit card is safer and offers better fraud protection.
- Package Delivery Scams
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) warns of delivery notification scam calls and texts. These text messages and calls look like theyโre from a legitimate mail or package courier, such as the US Postal Service, and include a fake tracking link. The link will lead you to a website to enter personal information, or it will install malware, software designed to gain unauthorized access, on your phone or computer. The malware will then start stealing your information.
Never click on a link from a postal service โ they will not text you unexpectedly. If you have any questions, give them a call.
- Spoofing
Itโs no secret that fraudsters are good at what they do โ they can be quite convincing and create a sense of urgency. Caller ID and Text Message Spoofing, in particular, are on the rise. That is when criminals falsely display Penn Community Bank or a trusted individualโs phone number to create a sense of trust when asking for sensitive information.
Always be skeptical of unprompted phone calls or text messages from your bank. Think twice about what you reveal online and call your bank directly if you have even the slightest concern over your banking activity. Conduct daily account reconciliation and credit monitoring, because the quicker you catch the fraud, the less damage is done.
- Emergency Scam
No one wants to hear that a family member or friend is dealing with an emergency. We quickly want to help, which is an admirable trait, but scammers take advantage of it. They target people claiming to be family members or friends whose circumstance requires money to be resolved. Before sending any money, verify their story with other family and friends, but call directly. You can also ask questions that would be hard for an impostor to answer correctly.
- Bogus Websites
Online shopping is convenient, especially when trying to avoid the holiday shopping rush. When you do shop online, make sure to only use legitimate websites. Scammers use URLs that look remarkably similar to those of legitimate sites. Always double-check the URL before making a purchase and be wary of sites where the brand name is included with long URLs.
If you have any doubt or concern, call up the number of the store to confirm that the URL is indeed theirs. Enable multi-factor authentication on your accounts to protect against unauthorized access.
- Malware Email
Donโt be quick to click! Clicking on the wrong link or downloading a scammerโs attachment can result in malware spreading to your computer. This computer virus or โbugโ can steal personal information or even hold your device hostage unless you pay a price. Links and attachments can come in the form of emails or pop-up advertisements.
Always keep your software up-to-date and protect your accounts by enabling multi-factor authentication and using unique passwords. Hover over any links before clicking on them to verify that the URL matches the legitimate website.
Spread Joy, Not Fraud
Donโt let fraud overshadow all the holiday fun. As fraud attempts increase and types of fraud expand, please remember these essential tips:
- If something doesnโt feel right, trust your instincts and stop
- Never share one-time passcodes with anyone
- Always question unexpected calls, even if they appear to be from Penn Community Bank
Penn Community Bank will never:
- Call you to ask for your online banking password
- Ask you to transfer money to a โsafe accountโ
- Request your full PIN or card number over the phone
- Ask you to download remote access software
- Pressure you to make an immediate financial decision
Remember, most Grinches hide behind technology. At Penn Community Bank, weโre committed to keeping your finances secure year-round. By staying informed and using our secure banking tools, you can protect yourself from scams this holiday season and beyond. For more fraud prevention tips and resources, visit www.PennCommunityBank.com, contact us, or stop by your local branch to speak with a member of our team.
