Security and Fraud Alerts
Fraud Alert: Common Holiday Scams
Unfortunately the holidays often bring an influx of financial scams. Here are some potential scams to be on the lookout for this holiday season.
Charity Scams
December accounts for nearly one-third of all charitable donations. With many organizations moving fundraising online, fraudulent charities and scammers posing as individuals in need have increased.
Avoid making impromptu donations to unfamiliar organizations.
Delivery Scams
As packages are shipped nationwide, scammers send phishing emails or texts disguised as UPS, FedEx, or USPS notifications. These messages may lead to fake sign-in pages requesting personal information, malware-infected sites, or demands for new “shipping fees.”
Never click suspicious links. Go directly to the carrier’s official website.
Online Shopping Scams
With holiday shopping starting earlier, criminals exploit urgency by posting fake deals and fraudulent websites.
Shop only with trusted retailers and avoid offers that seem too good to be true.
Compromised Account Alerts
Scammers impersonate companies like Amazon, PayPal, Netflix, or banks, sending emails, calls, or texts claiming suspicious account activity. Victims are urged to act immediately, often leading to stolen credentials.
Be cautious of unsolicited alerts. Verify directly with the company using official contact information.
Temporary Holiday Job Scams
Seasonal hiring surges during the holidays, especially in retail and delivery services. Fraudsters exploit job seekers by posting fake listings designed to steal money or personal information.
Research employers carefully and never provide sensitive information to unverified job postings.