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    5 Tips to Keep Your Holidays Festive and Fraud-Free

    The holidays should be a time of giving, not getting scammed. This year the National Retail Federation expects consumers to spend roughly $720.89 billion during the holiday season, which includes a 15 percent increase in e-commerce sales. With all of this hustle and bustle, it is very easy to become a victim of fraud or get caught in a scam that could make the season not so merry. Here are five tips that will help you keep your holidays festive, not fraudulent.

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    1. Check your accounts often.
    You’ve been swiping credit cards, inserting chips, and typing in your card numbers left and right, and with that comes the possibility of your card information being stolen. This season, make sure to check your accounts and statements frequently and thoroughly. Contact your financial institution or card issuer immediately if you notice activity that you don’t recognize.

    2. Protect yourself against “Porch Pirates.”
    Package theft, or “porch pirating,” is the latest type of scam activity to hit our front doors, especially during the holidays. To protect yourself, we recommend that you require a signature when having a package delivered and set up delivery alerts whenever possible. You may also consider having your packages held at the post office or shipped directly to work instead of home.

    3. Avoid bogus charities.
    Charitable giving is in full swing during the holidays. Non-profit organizations often rely on year-end donations to meet their needs and plan for the following year. Unfortunately, scammers also use this time to prey on the emotions of unsuspecting victims. Avoid giving in to charities that solicit heavily or pressure you for money. If you are in the giving spirit this holiday, your safest bet is to research the charity of your choice and contact them directly.

    4. If it’s free or really cheap, it’s usually a scam.
    You just got an email saying you’ve won a free trip to the Bahamas! Don’t start packing yet. Chances are, it’s a scam. Scam emails like these almost always require you to pay upfront with a wire or money transfer. You may also be asked to pay phony fees or taxes on the so-called “prize.” Our advice? If it seems too good to be true, it usually is. If you want to take a vacation or travel during the holidays, it’s best to plan it yourself.

    5. E-cards loaded with a not-so jolly greeting.
    Identity thieves like to send out seasonal greeting cards that are loaded with viruses and other malware. Unfortunately, the greeting will usually appear to come from someone you know. But beware: if it looks shady, it probably is. Always be on the lookout for obvious misspellings, punctuation errors and strange URL addresses. If you don’t know who sent the e-card, we advise that you delete it immediately.

    Learn more about Telhio by visiting telhio.org.

    Telhio Credit Union is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or goes to school in Franklin, Fairfield, Delaware, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, Union, Hamilton, Warren, Butler and Preble counties. Founded in 1934, originally as the credit union for the Columbus Telephone Co., Telhio is a not-for-profit financial cooperative where its members are also its owners. Driven by its philosophy that members come first, Telhio is committed to the highest standards of responsibility and conduct. Telhio offers a variety of innovative programs, services and products to support its members’ financial needs. Telhio offers 10 branching offices throughout Central and Southwestern Ohio and nearly 4,000 shared branching locations nationwide. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender. All loans subject to underwriting approval and guidelines. NMLS #251831

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    Jaszmine Davis
    Jaszmine Davishttp://www.telhio.org
    Jaszmine Davis is currently the Marketing Coordinator for Telhio Credit Union and is responsible for Telhio’s internal and external communications, email marketing and social media. She has worked in the financial industry for over 10 years and is a member of the Telhio Advocacy Group. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Jaszmine currently resides in Gahanna, Ohio with her husband and two dogs and is actively involved in various local charities.
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