New Scams to Watch Out for This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time for giving - but unfortunately, it's also a time when scammers ramp up their efforts to take advantage of busy shoppers. Be aware of the following new scams and remember to think before you click!

Social Media Scams

Resist the temptation of clicking on ads on social media pages because they can direct you to a fraudulent website and give the gift that keeps on making you miserable by infecting your device with malware. Instead, visit the trusted retailer's website.

Look-A-Like Websites

Speaking of social media scams, threat actors create counterfeit websites that look like the real thing but are designed to capture credentials and account information or are laced with malware, software designed to give scammers unauthorized access to your device. Instead, visit the trusted retailer's website. Always double-check the URL before making a purchase and be wary of sites where the brand name is included with long URLs. Scammers use URLs that look remarkably similar to those of legitimate sites.

Fake Travel Booking Sites

Nothing will ruin your holiday travel like booking a trip on an imaginary travel booking site. When searching for travel destinations and booking travel, pop-up ads with unbelievable deals will trap your personally identifiable information leaving you stuck at home.

Compromise Account Alerts

Sure, the notice that you're overdrawn or under attack may look real but is not. Fraudulent alerts are designed to make you panic, click the link, and surrender your account information. The best bet is to contact your financial institution directly using trusted information.

What to Do If You Are Scammed:

• If you feel that someone is scamming you, don't respond to the email, and block it. If it's a phone call - hang up.
• If you provide your personal information (account, date of birth, online banking user ID, password, etc.) contact your financial institution immediately.
• Use multi-factor authentication wherever possible.

If you have any concerns regarding your SFB bank account, call us directly at 888.254.0615.