‘Tis The Season To Be SCAMMED: Protecting Yourself This Holiday Season

It’s no secret that retail business BOOMS during the Christmas holiday. Stores, both brick-and-mortar and online, enjoy thousands of transactions each day, which translate into dollar signs for the business owners. It’s a wonderful time of year for them, but for consumers, it can quickly turn into a nightmare thanks to the growing trend of identity theft, and more specifically, credit card fraud.

With just a few numbers, or small bits of your personal information, a thief can do massive financial damage that could take years to overcome. Carroll Marshall Insurance wants to make sure you and your information are kept safe this holiday season, so here are a few simple tips to make sure you don’t become a victim while doing your Christmas shopping…

Be Aware

When shopping in stores, stay aware of your surroundings, especially during checkout time. When paying with a credit or debit card, keep your receipts in a safe place (be mindful of just throwing them into the shopping bag, or on the floor of your car where they could be easily misplaced and get into the wrong hands).

Opt For Credit If You Can

When shopping online, use your credit card instead of entering debit card information. Credit cards typically have better protection policies against fraud, and will leave you with far fewer consequences than your debit card would in the wrong hands. Additionally, most credit cards offer payback programs and rewards, so you’re getting bonus “gifts” while you’re doing your holiday shopping!

Be A Guest

If given an option, checkout as a guest when buying things online. By checking out as a guest, your financial information isn’t saved, as it would be if you have an “account” with the store. It might take a little more time, but it’s worth it in the long run. If stores don’t offer the option, make sure to pay with credit as mentioned above.

Watch Your Statements

It’s always good to keep a close eye on your accounts and financial statements, but it’s especially important during the holiday season when shopping is at a yearly high. Make sure you monitor statements closely, and report any unusual activity such as purchases you did not make. It can also be beneficial to sign up for your financial service provider’s fraud alert program if they have one. If they notice unusual activity on your account, they notify you through a phone call and/or text message on your phone. It’s a great way to stay on top of your account activity.

While nothing can guarantee financial safety, we hope the above tips will help you feel better prepared to protect yourself and your information this Christmas season. Another way to protect your finances? Making sure you are prepared for whatever life throws your way, which is what we’re here for! At Carroll Marshall, we can help you evaluate your current situation, and determine what types of protection plans are best for you and your loved ones and how much coverage you need. We want you to rest easy knowing that your finances are protected in the event that you are injured and lose your job, your home loses the primary breadwinner and your dependents need income, or any other unexpected event that would otherwise leave you scrambling. Protect yourself this season. We’re ready to work with you!