Here’s a not-so-fun fact: Did you know that fraud is estimated to increase by as much as 60 to 70% during the holidays? That’s worse than a lump of coal in your stocking.

During the holidays fraud is a heightened concern, however, we work year-round to ensure your data and money are secure. To help secure it even more, follow these tips below, so that you can spend more time with the eggnog and less time on the phone with a customer service representative.

Holiday Data Security Tips

• When shopping online, only enter information onto a secure site – meaning the very first part of the website address should start with HTTPS://. Don’t shop on a site that doesn’t have that as part of the URL.
• Use mobile apps for shopping versus websites. They are more secure.
• Be on the lookout for fake versions of legitimate sites. Fake sites will have unusual URLs, odd contact information, or bad web design.
• Shop online with a credit card instead of a debit card, if possible. That way, if your card data is stolen (we hope it’s not!) it’s not linked to your checking account.
  Make sure to report any suspicious account activity to us immediately, so that we may address it.
• Be very wary of anyone trying to get your information, whether it be your account number, your date of birth, social security number, etc., in a phone call, text message, or over email.
• Don’t enter personal data over public WiFi. It can be intercepted and stolen by a fraudster.
• Avoid falling for holiday charity scams. This goes back to strangers asking for data – don’t give it to them!
• When shopping in a store, be aware of your surroundings and who’s nearby when entering your PIN.
• Shred receipts when you’re done with them to secure your personal information.
• Be vigilant (at the holidays, and year-round) with your mail by checking it daily, especially if you don’t have a locked mailbox. You can see what’s coming to you in the mail ahead of time by subscribing, for free, to the U.S. Postal Service’s Informed Delivery. You’ll received an email each day with an image of everything that’s being processes by USPS automated equipment.

A few extra precautions can mean the difference between a fantastic holiday or one you’d rather forget!