Important: We will never call or text you and ask for the following information:

  • Personal Identification Number (PIN)

  • Full Social Security Number

  • Full Debit Card Number

  • Online Banking Passwords

  • One-Time Passcodes

Being aware of common scams can help you avoid them. However, scammers are always coming up with new tactics; here is a list of the scams to expect this holiday season:

  • Beware of deals that are too good to be true. Unreasonably low prices—especially on hard-to-find items – are a red flag for scams.

  • Stick with retailers you trust. One of the best ways to avoid scams is to shop only with well-known retailers. If you see deals advertised online for retailers you’re not familiar with, search the company names online along with the words “reviews,” “scam,” or “complaint.” Also, visit BBB.org to see companies' reviews.

  • Don’t click on links in emails or text messages, even if they appear to come from trusted retailers. Visit retailers’ sites directly to see if you can find the deal that you’ve been notified about. If you’ve ordered items online, use the package tracking information in your purchase confirmation email.

  • Don’t click on ads for discounted items. Instead, go directly to the retailer’s site. The ad likely was fake if you don’t find the advertised deals on the official site.‍

  • Make sure websites are legitimate and secure by checking the URL for misspellings and extra letters or characters (for example, a fake Dick’s Sporting Goods URL might appear as d-sporting goods). Look for https:// and a padlock symbol. Also, look for customer service contact information. Avoid making purchases from that site if you can’t find any or if it directs you to a generic email address.

  • Use a credit card for online purchases. Credit cards offer more protection than other forms of payment if you need to get your money back for fraudulent transactions and purchases that merchants aren’t willing to refund.

  • Monitor financial institutions and credit card accounts for unauthorized charges. There’s still a chance that scammers could get your credit or debit card information even if you take the steps above to stay safe. A service such as Carefull can provide 24/7 monitoring of checking, savings, and credit card accounts for unusual or fraudulent transactions and credit and identity monitoring.

Top Holiday Scams

Fake Caller ID and Texts- Scammers can fake caller IDs and send anonymous texts pretending to be from retailers, credit unions, or even friends and family.

Social media ads: Social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram can contain ads for popular items that are deeply discounted. Avoid clicking on those ads because they could be scam sites that send inferior products, counterfeit items or nothing at all, according to the Better Business Bureau. Search online for reviews of the company offering the deal. Better yet, visit trusted retailers’ sites to see if they’re offering a discount on the product.

Lookalike retail websites: Scammers create websites that mimic trusted retailers’ sites to trick consumers into shopping on them. If you receive emails or text messages that supposedly are from retailers or see ads online for deals, pay attention to the spelling of the retailer’s name in the link. It might appear to be a link for a retailer you know, but if the name is slightly misspelled (such as Amaz0n with a zero), don’t click on the link. The best action is to avoid clicking on any links in emails or online ads. Instead, go directly to a retailer’s website to search for deals.

Shipping scams: Don’t click on any links in text messages that appear to come from the U.S. Postal Service or shipping companies. These messages typically claim that the company is having trouble delivering a package. However, the links lead to a form that requires your personal information, which will be stolen. Or they could trigger the downloading of malware.

Alerts about compromised accounts: Beware of emails and text messages about unusual or fraudulent activity on your financial institution account or another account, such as Amazon, Netflix, PayPal, or Venmo. The links in these messages will take you to websites that ask for personal information, which scammers will use to access your account. If you’re worried that there might be suspicious activity on your account, contact the company directly by calling the number on its website. Don’t call a number provided to you in an email or text message.

Free gift cards: Watch out for emails with offers for free or discounted gift cards—even if the emails appear to come from legitimate companies. Scammers send these phishing emails in an attempt to get personal information. This scam also can appear as a text message with a link to claim a free gift card or prize. Never click on the links or respond to these messages. They might download malware onto a computer or device or lead to a fake site that aims to steal the user’s personal information.

Fake charities: Scammers take advantage of people’s generosity during the holiday season by creating fake charities or pretending to be people in need. Be wary of any organization that pressures you to make a donation on the spot, requests to be paid in cash, by gift card or wire transfer, that won’t provide specifics about how your money will be used or promises you will win a sweepstakes if you donate.

Think You’ve Been Scammed?


We’ll do our best to notify you if we suspect fraudulent activity on your accounts, but you can also do a few things to monitor your accounts.

  • Set alerts on your accounts for transactions such as purchases or withdrawals over a certain dollar amount or when checks have cleared.

  • If you’re traveling for the holidays, let us know your plans by setting a travel notice in online banking.

  • Set up your Visa Debit Card with CardHub in Online Banking -If your card is lost or stolen, temporarily block it until you can find or replace it.

  • Contact us immediately at (800) 658-9933.