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5 Cybersecurity Risks to Watch This Holiday Season

Posted on by Lisa Romero

The holiday season brings more online shopping, travel, and charitable giving, which also creates new opportunities for cybercriminals. From a financial perspective, a little caution can go a long way toward protecting your money and personal information.

The five most important cybersecurity threats to be aware of are:

  • Holiday Shopping Scams: Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true, especially from unfamiliar websites or social media ads. Fraudulent retailers often collect payment information without delivering products.
  • Phishing Emails and Texts: Criminals frequently impersonate shipping companies, retailers, and financial institutions with fake delivery updates or account alerts designed to steal login credentials.
  • Public Wi-Fi Risks: Shopping or banking on unsecured public networks can expose sensitive information. Avoid accessing financial accounts while connected to public Wi-Fi.
  • Gift Card Fraud: Scammers may tamper with gift cards in stores or request gift cards as payment. Always inspect cards carefully and remember that legitimate organizations do not accept gift cards as a form of payment.
  • Account Takeovers: Reused or weak passwords make it easier for criminals to access financial accounts. Enable multi-factor authentication and use unique passwords for important accounts.

As holiday spending increases, so does cybercrime activity. Taking a few simple precautions, such as shopping with trusted merchants, verifying communications before clicking links, and monitoring account activity regularly, can help reduce your risk of financial loss.

Did you know? Enrolling in Online Banking and setting up account alerts can help you spot suspicious activity sooner, reducing the likelihood that fraudulent charges go unnoticed. Pair that with Credit Insights, which notifies you whenever your credit report is accessed, and you’ll have an added layer of protection against identity theft. The sooner you’re alerted to potential fraud, the faster you can take action to protect your accounts and finances. Sign up for both, all at no added cost to you, these features are built in to your Del Norte Credit Union’s Online Banking app! Learn how here.