During the holidays, scammers take advantage of seasonal distractions to steal personal information and commit fraud. We’re already seeing an uptick in reports – particularly of convincing fraud alerts asking recipients to verify large transactions from well-known, national retailers.
Scammers cast a wide net with these types of messages and it’s easy for them to pose as real businesses and banks by imitating logos, contact names and caller ID. While MVSB will alert you to suspicious activity by text message, we will never ask you to click on a suspicious link or respond with personal information, such as your account number, online banking username, password or your secure passcode.
And remember, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it likely is. So if you see an advertisement or land on an unfamiliar website offering a steep discount or access to a popular gift that is sold out elsewhere, it’s likely a scam.
The good news? Staying safe is as simple as being vigilant and trusting your instincts. Make it priority to track spending and monitor your accounts during the holidays and throughout the year. Knowing what to expect, means you’re less likely to fall for a suspicious message or email indicating a problem with a payment or order.
We care about keeping you safe from fraud and our branch support team is trained to help. If you suspect you may have fallen victim to a scam or your account information may be at risk, please call us directly at the phone number on our website 800.922.6872.
Wishing you holidays filled with joy, laughter and peace of mind!
Read more about popular scams to look out for this holiday season from the Better Business Bureau.
