Keep your holiday season joyful — not stressful

Holiday Scam Alert: Protect Your Cheer This Season

The holidays should be a season of joy, generosity, and celebration, but for scammers, it’s peak season to take advantage of busy shoppers and big-hearted donors. Beacon Federal Credit Union is here to help you stay informed, stay alert, and remain protected. Here are the most common holiday scams to watch for and simple ways to keep your finances safe.

---

1. Phishing Emails & Scam Messages, Don’t Click!

Scammers send emails or texts that look like they’re from trusted companies, asking you to “verify your account,” “track your package,” or “fix a payment issue.”
Red Flags:

• Urgent language
• Misspellings or unfamiliar senders
• Links that look slightly “off”

Tip: Never click unexpected links. Type the website address directly.

---

2. Fake Online Deals & Shopping Scams

Fraudsters create websites or ads offering unbelievable prices on popular holiday gifts.
Red Flags:

• Deals that seem too good to be true
• No customer reviews
• Requesting payment via gift card or peer-to-peer apps

Tip: Always shop through trusted retailers and secure websites.

---

3. Delivery Scams

“Your package is delayed. Click here to reschedule.”
These texts are designed to steal your login or personal information.

Tip: Track packages ONLY through the official UPS, USPS, FedEx, or Amazon website.

---

4. Imposter Calls, Including Fake Beacon Federal Credit Union Calls

Scammers may claim:

• “Your account is locked.”
• “You must verify your information.”
• “We need your online banking code.”

Tip: Beacon Federal Credit Union will never ask for your passwords, codes, or complete account information by phone, text, or email.

---

5. Gift Card Scams

Gift cards are for gifts, not bills.
If someone asks you to pay with a gift card, it’s always a scam.
Pressure to act fast is another warning sign.

---

6. Charity Scams, “Do Your Research”

Scammers exploit holiday generosity by creating fake charities.
Red Flags:

• No website or clear contact information
• High-pressure donation tactics
• Requests for cash, wire transfers, or gift cards

Tip: Donate only to verified, trusted organizations you know and trust.

---

 7. Romance & Social Media Holiday Scams

Fraudsters create emotional stories to ask for money or “urgent help.”
Tip: Never send money to someone you have not met in person.

---

8. Fake Holiday Jobs & Side-Gig Scams

Scammers advertise high-paying seasonal jobs but ask for upfront fees, personal information, or account access.
Tip: Legitimate employers will never ask you to pay to apply or onboard.

---

Protect Your Holiday Cheer

Please exercise caution and vigilance when using Online and Mobile Banking. Beacon offers powerful tools under Card Management, including:

• Real-time alerts
• Transaction controls
• Card lock/unlock features

These features provide you with peace of mind and enable you to identify suspicious activity quickly.

---

Stay Safe, Stay Aware, Stay Merry

With a few smart steps, you can keep your holiday season joyful and scam-free.
Beacon Federal Credit Union is here for you, today and every day.

We’re Looking Out for You!

« Return to "Blog"