Busy seasons like the holidays tend to see an increase in consumer fraud as people are shopping, donating, or sending money online. Here’s what to look out for. Common scams from fraudsters include: Holiday shopping scams Charity & investment scams Tech support scams Imposter scams Fake websites and apps Phishing emails and texts about package delivery All of these are designed to try and separate people from their hard-earned money. Luckily, there’s some common red flags to look out for: Don’t always trust the name. Fraudsters will spoof the email name, logos, phone numbers, and web page URLs to appear to be legitimate at first glance. Be cautious of clicking links and opening attachments. Don’t click unless you are confident of the sender or are expecting the attachment! Never share anything related to your credit union account, transactional history, or identifying personal information. This includes your online banking username and password. Never share these with anyone, even if they claim to be from the credit union. Legitimate representatives will never ask for your login credentials. Do not share a one-time passcode sent via text or email to your device(s) Be suspicious of “urgent” or “immediate” response needed or “unauthorized login attempt” of your account messages. Be wary of offers that appear too good to be true, require fast action, or instill a sense of fear. Keep social media accounts private and be cautious who you’re connecting with. If you’re unsure, hang up and call back using the official phone number. Scammers often pose as legitimate companies, even your financial institution, to pressure you into sharing information. If something feels off, end the call and use the verified number listed on the company’s official website to confirm whether the contact was genuine. Always report suspicious activity to the credit union as soon as possible. Contact us. ✨ From all of us at Good Neighbors Credit Union, we wish you a safe, joyful, and fraud-free holiday season!