Dodge the Grinch - here's how!
In today's digital world, online holiday shopping is more popular than ever. According to Salesforce Data, online holiday sales reached $1.2 trillion in 20241. While online shopping is convenient, it's a prime time for scammers to take advantage of shoppers.
We know the holidays can be a hectic time. Between traveling to see family and searching for the best gift deals, it's easy to become distracted and miss potential red flags while shopping.
With big annual sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, we've put some tips together to help you protect your information and browse the web safely this season.
We know the holidays can be a hectic time. Between traveling to see family and searching for the best gift deals, it's easy to become distracted and miss potential red flags while shopping.
With big annual sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, we've put some tips together to help you protect your information and browse the web safely this season.
- Watch out for shipping scams - with a high volume of packages being shipped, it's important to be cautious of fake tracking messages. Around the holidays, scammers often send delivery alerts designed to trick you into providing your personal and financial information. Instead of clicking, go to the offical shipping provider's website and enter your tracking number directly.
- Use your credit card - Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards. Credit cards pull from a line of credit rather than your bank account, so your personal funds stay secure if fraud occurs. Credit cards typically offer purchase protection and rewards. With Abound's Platinum Visa® you'll earn 5% cashback on gas purchases paid at the pump, and 1% on all others2, perfect for holiday shopping and travel.
- Keep your devices updated - Updating your devices regularly is a good habit, not just during the holidays. Software updates often include security patches that make it harder for hackers to compromise your data. Enabling automatic updates is a simple way to keep your information safe and ensure you're current on the latest security features.
- Shop reputable brands - If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Fraudsters often create fake websites that mimic popular retailers during the holidays. Be sure to shop using sites from retailers you know and trust. If you receive a promotional message including a link to a suspicious website, do not engage. To safely access a website, type the retailer's established URL into your browser rather than clicking on links in unsolicited messages.
1 https://www.salesforce.com/news/press-releases/2025/01/06/2024-holiday-shopping-data/
2Cash back rebates on purchases made with Platinum Visa® only. All rebates will not be shown at the time of purchase but will appear on your monthly billing statement. 5% off fuel purchases paid at the pump and 1% off general retail purchases. 3% Visa® cash advance fee. Rates and terms are subject to credit approval. Subject to $10 Membership Fee if not already a member.
2Cash back rebates on purchases made with Platinum Visa® only. All rebates will not be shown at the time of purchase but will appear on your monthly billing statement. 5% off fuel purchases paid at the pump and 1% off general retail purchases. 3% Visa® cash advance fee. Rates and terms are subject to credit approval. Subject to $10 Membership Fee if not already a member.
