PAYMENTS RATESLOCATIONSFIND AN ATMCONTACT US personal business about login apply now schedule an appointment Holiday Scams and How to Prevent Them For every family looking to enjoy a safe and exciting holiday season, there awaits a thief or criminal looking to take advantage of holiday goers. Everyone at Financial One Credit Union wants to prevent a Scrooge from harming your family and identity. To do this, take the following common holiday scams into consideration. GIFT CARDS Gift cards often are an excellent way to ensure that your loved one will receive something they love and will use. They are also one of the most common scams during the holiday season. Scammers take advantage of holiday shoppers by either scanning the magnetic strip on the card or by counterfeiting cards. To avoid this problem, consider purchasing cards from the customer service desk, and always ask for the card to be scanned if it is pre-loaded. DELIVERY TARGETS The holidays are an exceptionally busy time for delivery services. Many thieves take advantage of this and develop multiple scams involving delivery companies. One such scam involves leaving a notice at your door that states you missed a package and that you must call and arrange for delivery of the package. Once you call, the scammer asks for your personal and private information such as your PIN or your social security number. Call the postal office or delivery carrier to ensure if your expected package has arrived. Your local postal office, UPS, or FedEx does not require such personal information to deliver your package. Be wary of this very common scam. PHISHING SCAMS Checking your email during the holiday season most likely means you are bombarded with emails on discounted merchandises, final holiday sales, coupons, and much more. While many of these emails may save you a ton in your holiday budget, be wary of emails and links that hold malicious malware and viruses. Identity theft would be a rather unwanted holiday present. Unfortunately, there is no surefire way to guarantee that an email is 100% safe, so if you are tempted by a link or offer, travel to the website itself to see whether the email was indeed legitimate. FACEBOOK AND GRANDPARENT SCAMS Facebook hacks and grandparent scams are done year-round, but are even more prevalent during the holiday season. The scams often start with a social media account posting or a phone call claiming to be a loved one who claims to be in trouble and in need of some money. Often hackers will obtain personal information in the hopes of making the scam seem more authentic. To prevent this if you have a loved one traveling, consider setting up a secret code word or registering with the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at https://step.state.gov/step/ to help with communication in emergencies. OLD SCAMS ARE STILL COMMON FOR A REASON Warning: Not all holiday scams happen electronically. Thieves can still act as door to door salesmen casing homes or criminals who tail delivery services and are prepared to snatch your package up when you are not home. During the holidays, people are generally in high and giving spirits. Unfortunately, scammers are more than prepared to take advantage of this. Fake charities often spring up looking for people to trick into donating. To ensure whether or not a charity is legitimate, check out www.charitynavigator.org. Holiday scams occur nearly every year and it may be likely that you or your loved one may be a victim of a scam. To help ensure you are not, use common sense and read the fine print before giving your personal information away. Research and double check before each and every purchase. Or consider setting up a cash only policy in your household instead of a debit or credit card during the holiday seasons. Consider all these tips to have a safe and exciting holiday season. CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE NOVEMBER 23, 2020 0 LIKES Previous Making and Saving Money While Going to School BANKING, FINANCIAL ONE, SAVINGS, INVESTMENT, CREDIT UNION, TIPS Next Financial One Credit Union: What We are All About! BANKING, CREDIT UNION, FINANCIAL ONE, FAMILY, INVESTMENT, SAVINGS, TIPS How to Avoid Common Scams and Fraud Nov 15, 2021 Minneapolis Fall Home Maintenance Checklist Oct 29, 2021 How to Plan Your Finances for the Last Quarter of the Year Oct 3, 2021 How to Avoid Phishing Scams in Your Email Inbox Aug 24, 2021 Four Tips to Keep Your Budget While on Vacation Jul 22, 2021 make a paymentmobile bankingratesfaqprivacy & disclosuresdocumentscareersshared branchingfind an atmcontact Routing number: 291073503 NMLS: #623955 Blaine 10210 Baltimore St NE Blaine, MN 55449-6049 Coon Rapids 11465 Robinson Dr NW Coon Rapids, MN 55433 Columbia Heights 843 40th Ave NE Columbia Heights, MN 55421 Phone: 763-404-7600 Lobby hours (appointments preferred): Mon - Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm Blaine & Columbia Heights: Sat 9:00am - 12:00pm Coon Rapids: Closed Saturdays Drive-through hours: Mon - Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm Blaine & Columbia Heights: Sat 9:00am - 12:00pm Coon Rapids: Closed Saturdays We are closed on major U.S. holidays. 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