Beware of Holiday Scams
With the holidays quickly approaching, it’s imperative for everyone to stay vigilant against online scams and identity theft schemes. It’s also the time of year when cybercriminals try to take advantage of consumers, quickly turning the joyous season into a living nightmare.
Here are the most common scams that you may encounter during the holiday season:
Fake Online Stores or “Lookalike Stores.” Be on the lookout for online stores that are either entirely fake or made to look like a legitimate store. Watch out for red flags, such as deeply discounted prices especially for in-demand items, like electronics, jewelry, and clothing. Be particularly careful with social media ads that link you to bogus online stores or product listings. You may end up with stolen credit card information or paying for an item that is never received.
Missed Delivery/Non-Delivery Notification. With the rise in online shopping, lots of packages arrive at our front door during the holiday season. Beware of fake delivery notification emails or text messages alerting you of a missed package delivery. Do not be quick to click on the link provided in a text or email, as you may be directed to a website designed to steal your information. Make sure you pay attention to the domain address of the link to ensure it is a reputable delivery site and be especially cautious with delivery websites that ask for your personal or payment information to complete a package delivery.
Gift Card Scams. Gift card scams involve either scamming you into buying fake gift cards or tricking you into using gift cards to pay for fraudulent goods or services. For example, avoid online stores or advertisements that claim to sell commercial gift cards at deeply discounted prices. While they may have you believe you are buying a gift card on sale, in fact you may end up receiving a gift card with zero money value. Instead, purchase gift cards in person from reputable retailers.
Fake Charities. During the holidays, cybercriminals seek to take advantage of your generosity through fraudulent charities, campaigns, and other charitable causes. These types of scams can be particularly difficult to distinguish, so before donating, be extra cautious about selecting a charity. If donating online, research the charity thoroughly, check with the Better Business Bureau, look at the charity’s URL and website for signs of fraud, including misspellings, bad grammar, and no contact information.
Fraudulent Seasonal Jobs. Employment scams tend to increase during the holiday season, as scammers prey on individuals seeking to make extra money. Be mindful of fake job ads, especially online job listings that offer good money for very little work. Do not ever pay upfront for any equipment or training you need for a new job. Also, do not provide your personal identifying information (social security number, date of birth, address, etc.) or your financial and banking information. Be mindful of money mule schemes, in which a fake employer asks you to cash a check through your bank, keep a portion of the money, and then send the rest of the money back to the fake employer.
Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to a Holiday Scam. If you suspect fraudulent activity, please notify us immediately by calling 800-331-6268, or send a message through our website or app.
Safeguard Your Information
- Never provide confidential information, such as Social Security Number or Date of Birth, to someone unless you have initiated the contact.
- If you are contacted by phone or email and asked to confirm your confidential information, do not respond. Contact us immediately at 800-331-6268 or send us a notification on our website: www.tronavalley.com. Do not use the phone number provided in the email correspondence or that the caller provides to you.
- Do not share passwords or your Personal Identification Number (PIN) with anyone.
- When completing online applications or making purchases, ensure the website is utilizing encryption and the page shows as “https”.
- Do not record your Social Security number on a check, traveler’s check, gift certificates, etc., unless required by law.
- Do not share confidential information such as your Date of Birth or Address on social media. Fraudsters can obtain this information and begin to build a “synthetic ID” to commit fraud.
- If possible, go to the United States Postal Service and put your mail in their drop box. We highly recommend not putting it in your mailbox at home as fraudsters can steal your mail and obtain your name, address, routing number, and account number off of your check.
Eliminate Paper
- Utilize electronic options, such as Direct Deposit, eStatements or Bill Pay to reduce paper with your personal information printed on it which could be stolen in the mail.
- Watch for the signs of identity theft such as receiving bills in the mail for things you didn’t authorize.
- Utilize a shredder to render paper bills and statements unreadable.
Secure Your Computer & Mobile Device(s)
- Employ strong passwords and PINs on all devices.
- Engage auto-lock features on devices.
- Change passwords regularly and never share them with anyone.
- Do not allow your computer or mobile device to save passwords.
- Do not click on links embedded in emails or text messages that look suspicious.
- Ensure your device is equipped with Anti-Virus, Firewall, or other computer security features.
- Keep your operating system and software up to date by installing updates as soon as possible.
Spot Phishing Attempts
Criminals “phish” for your personal information. Phishing can take place via phone calls, emails, text messages, visiting your place of business or by directing you to a phony website that claims to be a legitimate business.
Criminals attempt to trick us into believing the communications we are seeing, or hearing, are from someone we can trust. They disguise their emails and text messages to look as though they’re from a legitimate business. Often, they employ some type of scare tactic to entice you to open the communication and/or provide account information. For example, emails and text messages may state they are from:
- UPS claiming there is a “problem with your shipment.”
- A financial institution claiming there is a “problem with your banking account.”
- The Better Business Bureau stating “A complaint has been filed against you.”
- Court system stating that “You have been served with a subpoena.”
Another trick will be to make something sound easy, such as “complete this quick survey.”
If you receive a phone call, email, text message, or visit to your place of business that you question, take the time to validate the communication before taking any action requested. Do not use the contact information provided in the email, text message, or by the individual. Instead, use the number advertised on the company’s statement or website.
Protect Against Malware
Malware is generally a computer virus or spyware intended to harm your computer. Computers become infected with malware through several mechanisms – sharing files on USB drives or DVD’s, opening suspicious e-mail attachments, clicking on links in e-mails, or visiting websites that are themselves infected with malware. Malware can also arrive with downloaded files, such as music or videos from peer-to-peer file sharing networks, or simply by visiting a website that has been hacked and infected.
Any website that is not properly secured can be hacked and infected with malware that could infect your computer. You will not likely receive any warning that malware is being downloaded onto your computer. In most cases, the website owners themselves do not know their sites have fallen victim to dispersing criminal malware.
Don't Become a Money Mule
Money mules are victims who become a middleman for the laundering of illegal or stolen funds. The victim is lured by an easy way to make large sums of money. Criminals then ask for the funds to be sent to another recipient, who is often the criminal. The layering of transactions helps to mask the criminal’s identity. The money mule may keep a commission for performing the transfer or wire. The victims of these scams are often left financially responsible for returning the stolen funds.
Common signs of a money mule scam:
- Overseas companies requesting money transfer agents in the United States.
- Opening new bank accounts to receive money from someone you don’t know.
- Accepting large sums of money into your personal bank account for a new job.
- Transferring or wiring funds out of your personal bank account to people you do not know.
Looking for More Information?
If you are a victim of financial fraud
File a fraud report through the Federal Trade Commission. That's the agency tasked with shutting down scammers. They use these fraud reports to help them build their cases. If you're a victim of identity theft, report your case at IdentityTheft.gov. Consider filing a report with your local law enforcement. They may not investigate your case, but the report could help you dispute fraudulent transactions.
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