November 20, 2018
Kellie M. Spawton
Fraud and identity theft are a scary problem all year long, but during holidays scammers and crooks are looking for a holiday bonus – your money and your information.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Shopping areas can be crowded, and shoppers are distracted by decorations, sales, and long shopping lists. This creates a perfect environment for pick-pockets. Keep your handbag completely closed and keep it close to your body. Keep your wallet in an inside or front pocket and never leave your handbag in a shopping basket or visible in your vehicle.
- Limit your cash. Use your debit or credit card, both of which come with fraud protection against unauthorized purchases.
- Guard your PIN. When using a debit card to make purchases or withdraw cash, use your hand or body to mask your PIN entry, guarding against “shoulder surfers.”
- Check the ATM. When withdrawing cash from an ATM, check your surroundings and check the ATM machine for any suspicious attachments. Thieves may be lurking nearby, or they may have placed devices on machines to obtain your information. Use an ATM in a well-lit area where you feel safe.
- Check your statements. Check your bank and credit card statements as soon as you receive them. Better yet, sign up for online and mobile banking with alerts so that you can be informed of any purchases on your accounts right away.
- Watch out for holiday phishing attempts. Phishing attempts continue to increase. Be wary of any ads or information requests you receive via email. Hover over any links in the email to see where the link is actually taking you, paying careful attention for minor changes. Navigate to the known website of the business instead of clicking on links in the email. When in doubt, delete!
- Protect your packages. With online orders rising, porch pirates ride the high seas of holiday shopping by stealing packages, which not only contain valuable items, but may also contain valuable information. If you order a lot of products, consider purchasing a secure delivery locker or having items delivered to a location at which someone is able to receive the items in person. If you have to leave packages in your vehicle, keep them covered or locked in the trunk.
- Secure your information – even at home. The holidays are a time when we have guests in our home. Sadly, our information is often stolen by people we know. Keep your personal information locked up and out of sight – remember that this includes passwords.
- Be wary of free public Wi-Fi. Scammers can steal your data on an open Wi-Fi connection, so use caution and consider waiting until you have a secure connection to shop or check your accounts.
- If it’s too good to be true…When selling online, or looking for extra work during the holidays, be aware that scammers are looking to make extra cash during the holidays too. If someone offers you a job with pay up from, or “accidentally” pays too much for an item you have sold, you are probably being scammed.
Bonus Tips
- Consider buying an RFID blocking wallet to protect against wireless identity theft. Identity thieves carrying a reader can be in proximity to you and gather information without even touching you or your belongings.
- Check your credit reports! Every consumer is entitled to one free copy from each reporting agency each year. Order from one agency in December, one in April, and one in August to ensure that you are able to see your report for free more often.
- Consider a credit monitoring service. There are several reputable companies that will not only monitor your credit reports for changes, but will also offer insurance and assistance, as well as dark web searches as part of their service.
To learn more about protecting yourself from identity theft and other scams, visit www.ftc.gov for tips and advice. If, despite your best efforts, your information is stolen, visit www.idtheft.gov to complete affidavits and obtain free recovery information.