All the magic, festivities, and warm, fuzzy feelings the holiday season bring are enough to make anyone lower their guard and shelf their skepticism. But while you're busy hunting for the perfect gift or snagging that limited-time deal, fraudsters are just as busy crafting scams designed to take advantage of your holiday cheer.
At Golden 1 Credit Union, your financial security is our top priority. Here’s how you can shop smart and avoid fraud during the busiest shopping season.
Too good to be true?
Unfortunately, there’s more than a few ways for scammers to know exactly what deals might catch your eye and they’re able to create fraudulent websites that offer the very items you’ve searched for at a too-good-to-be-true price. The goal? Once you’ve gone through the purchase process on their website, they can capture your personal information and payment details.
Example: say you’ve been on the hunt for a great deal on a new TV, be prepared to start seeing ads or receive emails from various retailers showing you deals on those big screen beauties, especially during the holiday shopping season. Some deals are legitimate, some aren’t, so proceed with caution.
How to spot fake deals
- Before you click on any links, take a beat to make sure things are on the up-and-up.
- Always examine the URL and check for misspellings or unusual domain names.
- Particularly during the holidays, steer clear of clicking links from unsolicited emails or on social media ads and keep to your usual, trusted retailers.
- When shopping on your phone, use store apps to be sure you’re ordering cashmere at a fraction of the cost from the actual retailer.
Use secure payment methods
Use credit cards or digital wallets to add an extra layer of security rather than your debit cards when making online purchases. Explore all of our credit products to find super-secure ways to pay this season. Golden 1 members can receive up to 4% cash back through our secure credit card options, as well as fraud monitoring and zero liability protection.
Keep tabs on your accounts
We get it, time seems to kick into hyper-speed between November and January. But be sure to carve out some time to check in on your accounts so you can spot anything suspicious. The sooner you report fraud the better.
Delivery scams
During the holidays, package deliveries are constant—and scammers know it. You might receive a text or email claiming a package couldn’t be delivered and asking you to click a link to reschedule or pay a fee.
How to stay safe:
- Don’t click on links from unknown senders.
- Check tracking numbers directly on the retailer’s or carrier’s official website.
- Be wary of messages with urgent language or requests for payment.
- Legitimate delivery services won’t ask for sensitive information via text or email.
Gift card scams
Gift cards are a holiday favorite—and a scammer’s dream. Fraudsters may pose as a friend, coworker, or even a company rep asking you to buy gift cards and share the codes.
Avoid falling for it:
- Never buy gift cards at someone else’s request, especially if it involves sending codes or receipts.
- If you receive a suspicious message from someone you know, verify it through a separate channel.
- Remember: No legitimate business or organization will ask for payment in gift cards.
Protect your personal information
- Update your passwords wherever you have payment information saved.
- Set up dual factor authentication wherever it’s offered.
- Use private browsing and add blockers when shopping.
- Never, ever reply to a text, email, or phone call asking you to share sensitive information. Golden 1 will never ask for your full account number, PIN, or password via email or phone.
If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from Golden 1, report it immediately by forwarding it or send screenshots to reportsmishing@golden1.com.
If you clicked on any link in these messages or gave out your Mobile or Online banking credentials, one-time passcode, or any other sensitive details, please reset your password immediately and then call us at 1-877-465-3361.
Stay cautious and shop safely
A vigilant approach and maybe just a dash of skepticism is all it takes to keep fraud from ruining your festive vibe this season.
Visit the Golden 1 Security Center for more resources and information to keep things locked down so you can focus on making merry instead of recovering compromised accounts.
