By Jenni Grove and Shelby Blom, Fraud and Risk Management Team at Montana Credit Union

With the calendar switching to November, so comes the onslaught of marketing messages and emails encouraging us to open up our wallets and spend, spend, spend! While the holiday season is more than the gifts that accompany it, as consumers, we tend to swipe and tap our cards more this time of year, whether that be for holiday meals, travel, or shopping deals. Scammers know people are shopping, clicking and spending more than usual.

Here are answers to some of the most common fraud prevention questions we hear this time of year.

Q. How can I shop online safely this holiday season?

A. Online shopping has made crossing items off your lists from the comfort of your couch simple and convenient. The key to doing so safely is to only shop from trusted websites and apps. Fraudsters are known to create fake websites that can look almost identical to legitimate ones, leading you to purchase a product you may never receive. Double check that URL’s start with https:// and watch out for brand names that may be misspelled in websites – a subtle yet tricky way to fool consumers.

Q. What’s the safest way to use my card?

A. Tap to pay and chip debit and credit cards offer the most secure way to pay at the register, due to their data submission methods being encrypted. Using your card’s magnetic stripe could leave you vulnerable to a skimming scam.

Q. How can I spot scams in emails, texts or social media messages?

A. With the flurry of communications this time of year, scammers hope to take advantage of people by using fake links in emails and texts that seem legitimate…but if you stop and think through the message or sender, you’ll realize it’s a scam. Common phrases to watch out for include anything that states your account is locked or your package is delayed, with a link to click through, could potentially be an attempt to steal your information. Log into accounts directly to check account security and package tracking.

Q. What steps can I take to protect my accounts?

A. Many financial institutions have apps that will allow you to set up alerts and notifications for your spending. By setting these up, you’ll get real-time notifications if someone has compromised your accounts or debit and credit cards. And keep an eye on your account transactions, so that if you notice anything suspicious, you can contact your credit union or bank right away to shut things down. And finally, use strong and unique passwords on your accounts…or better yet, set up biometric authentication or passkeys to log in to your accounts, to keep them as secure as possible. If you’re not sure about how to do this, contact your financial institution so they can help you.

Fraud may be prevalent, but awareness is your best defense. During busy times, take a moment to slow down, double-check, and stay alert. A little caution goes a long way towards keeping your finances and peace of mind secure.

*Montana Credit Union is an advertiser with The Electric and offered these holiday fraud avoidance tips as a community service.