Red Flags of Holiday Scams

As the holiday season approaches, it’s a time of joy, celebration, and unfortunately, an uptick in various scams aiming to take advantage of your festive spirit. Kohler Credit Union is committed to ensuring you remain safe and secure by sharing valuable insights on how to safeguard yourself from scams.

Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like the FTC, Social Security Administration, IRS, Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Some claim to be from a business you know like your financial, a tech company, or a charity asking for donations. They also use technology to change the phone number that appears on caller ID.

These clever scammers might also state you’re in trouble with the government, owe money, a family member has an emergency, or that there’s a virus on your computer. Some scammers say there’s a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify information. Another example is you won money but have to pay a fee to get it.

Scammers want you to act before you have time to think or verify their story. Sometimes they will send a fake check, instruct you to deposit it and send them money. They often demand payment using cryptocurrency, wire money, use a payment app, or put money on a gift card.

By staying vigilant and educated, you can reduce the chances you will fall victim to fraud this holiday season. For more information on how to identify and protect yourself from scams, visit our recent blog post on Common Scam Prevention Tips.