Start With Safe Shopping: 7 Ways to Protect Your Money This Holiday Season
The holiday season is here! 🎄 Between finding the perfect gifts, checking off Christmas lists, and hunting down those can't-miss Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, there's a lot to look forward to.
But while you're shopping for everyone on your nice list, scammers are working on a list of their own.
From fake online stores to suspicious delivery notifications, cybercriminals know the holiday rush can make it easier to catch shoppers off guard. And sometimes, that deal that seems too good to be true really is.
The good news? You don't have to be a cybersecurity expert to protect your money.
At Signet Federal Credit Union®, we believe financial peace of mind starts with being informed. Before you fill that online shopping cart, here are seven simple ways to keep your holidays merry, bright, and scam-free.
1. Start With a Little Research Before You Buy
We've all been there. You're scrolling through Facebook or Instagram when an advertisement pops up for the perfect Christmas gift at an unbelievable price.
Before you hit "Add to Cart," take a closer look.
Scammers often create fake websites that look nearly identical to popular retailers, complete with professional product photos, familiar logos, and impressive discounts.
Before making a purchase:
Search the retailer's name alongside words like "reviews," "scam," or "complaints."
Double-check the website address for misspellings or unusual characters.
Look for clear contact information, return policies, and shipping details.
Be cautious of prices that seem significantly lower than everywhere else.
Signet-ure Advice: Just because a website looks legitimate doesn't mean it is. Take a few extra minutes to verify where you're shopping before sharing your payment information.
2. Give Your Passwords a Holiday Upgrade
You wouldn't use the same key for your house, car, and office, right? Your online accounts deserve that same level of protection.
Using the same password across multiple shopping websites makes it easier for scammers to access other accounts if one website experiences a data breach.
Create unique passwords for your shopping accounts and consider using a trusted password manager to keep track of them.
Whenever possible, turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA). This adds another layer of security by requiring additional verification when signing into an account.
And remember: Never share a verification code with someone who unexpectedly calls, texts, or emails you.
3. Look Beyond the Little Padlock
That little padlock beside a website's address is important, but it doesn't tell the whole story.
Websites beginning with "https://" use an encrypted connection to help protect information traveling between your browser and the website.
However, even fraudulent websites can have encrypted connections.
Before entering your card information, make sure you're shopping with a legitimate business. When in doubt, type the retailer's official website address directly into your browser instead of following an unfamiliar advertisement.
A secure connection is important. A trustworthy retailer is even better.
4. Keep Your Holiday Spending on Your Radar
Christmas shopping can add up quickly. Between gifts, stocking stuffers, decorations, and those little purchases you didn't necessarily plan on making, it's easy to lose track.
And scammers are counting on that.
One way to make monitoring easier is to use a designated payment card for your holiday purchases and regularly review your transactions.
Credit cards generally offer additional protections when disputing unauthorized charges or purchases that never arrive.
Here's your holiday shopping checklist:
Turn on transaction notifications when available.
Review your account activity regularly.
Save digital receipts and order confirmations.
Report unfamiliar charges as soon as you notice them.
Signet-ure Advice: Signet members can use mobile banking to monitor account activity and access available card controls and alerts. It's one more way to stay connected to your money, wherever the season takes you.
5. Don't Let a Fake Delivery Steal Your Holiday Cheer
You ordered the gifts. You're waiting for the packages. Then your phone buzzes:
"Your package could not be delivered. Click here to update your address."
Sound familiar?
During the holidays, scammers send fraudulent delivery notifications pretending to represent shipping companies or online retailers.
These messages may ask you to click a link, confirm personal information, or pay a small fee to release a package.
Before responding, stop and verify.
If you're expecting a package, check its status directly through the retailer's official website or the shipping company's app.
Never enter financial information through a suspicious text message or unexpected email link.
Remember: A real package can wait a few minutes while you verify the message. Protecting your information is worth it.
6. Keep Your Devices Updated
Your phone and computer work hard during the holidays, too!
From comparing prices to managing shopping apps, your devices may be handling more financial and personal information than usual.
Keeping your operating system, internet browser, and applications updated helps protect against known security vulnerabilities.
Enable automatic updates whenever possible and download software only through trusted sources.
And if a random pop-up claims your device needs an urgent security update? Don't click it. Check your device's settings or the official software provider instead.
7. Think Twice Before Downloading Shopping Apps
Holiday shopping apps can make finding deals and tracking orders convenient. Unfortunately, fake applications can also be used to collect personal information.
Before downloading a new shopping app, make sure it's from a legitimate retailer.
Check the developer's information, review app permissions, and download through your device's official app store.
Be especially cautious if an unfamiliar app requests access to information that doesn't seem necessary for shopping.
A few moments of caution can help prevent an unwanted surprise long after Christmas morning.
What If You Think You've Been Scammed?
Even careful shoppers can encounter convincing scams. What matters most is how quickly you respond.
If you suspect your financial information has been compromised:
Contact your financial institution immediately. Report suspicious transactions and ask what steps are needed to protect your accounts.
Change compromised passwords. Update affected accounts and enable multi-factor authentication.
Monitor your accounts. Watch for additional unauthorized activity.
Check your devices. If you clicked a suspicious link or downloaded a file, use trusted security software to check for potential threats.
Report the scam. Visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov to report suspected fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.
For Signet members, our team is here to help you understand your next steps and take action to protect your accounts.
Your Holiday Peace of Mind Starts With Signet
The holidays should be filled with meaningful moments, not financial worries.
Whether you're shopping online, checking your account balance, or preparing for the new year, a few smart financial habits can make a big difference.
At Signet Federal Credit Union®, we're committed to helping our members protect what matters most, not just during the holidays, but all year long.
Start with smart shopping. Start with Signet.
Want more ways to protect yourself from fraud? Visit our Member Protection Center for helpful tools, scam prevention tips, and resources to keep your money and personal information safer.
Federally Insured by NCUA.