{"id":2798,"date":"2025-11-20T12:00:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T13:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cncurc.org\/?p=2798"},"modified":"2025-11-20T15:12:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T15:12:05","slug":"how-to-sleigh-the-holidays-without-getting-scammed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.cncurc.org\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/how-to-sleigh-the-holidays-without-getting-scammed\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Sleigh the Holidays Without Getting Scammed"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Between the shopping trips, flash sales, and donation requests, the holidays are often prime time for scammers. Inboxes can be filled with \u201curgent\u201d updates and texts about surprise account issues, making it harder to determine what\u2019s real and what\u2019s a trap. The truth? Scammers know that this time of year comes with \u2014 distractions, increased generosity, and likely rushing to get things done \u2014 the perfect recipe for a slip-up. \u201cThe holidays are a busy time for scammers,\u201d says Diedra Porch\u00e9, Head of Community and Business Development at Chase. \u201cThey know people are buying more, booking trips, and making donations, so they often use fake websites, delivery scams, and even phony charities to dupe consumers out of their money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At the root of so many scams is impersonation \u2014 the art of pretending to be someone, says Porch\u00e9. \u201cScammers will impersonate known businesses, financial institutions, or government agencies, alerting consumers to a problem with their account or an urgent issue, to dupe them out of personal information and money,\u201d she says. You might get an email from what looks like your bank, a text from a \u201cshipping company,\u201d or even a call that appears to be from a legitimate number. \u201cPause before clicking any links or providing sensitive information over the phone,\u201d Porch\u00e9 advises. \u201cWhen in doubt, hang up and call back at a verified number. If it\u2019s your bank, call the number on the back of your card.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The bottom line: Scammers rely on urgency, fear, or too-good-to-be-true deals to make you act fast. The best defense? Slow down, verify, and trust your instincts. Here are three of the most common scams making the rounds this season \u2014 and how to avoid them.<\/p>\n<div><title>DashDividers_1_500x100<\/title><\/div>\n<h2>1. The Social Media Shopping Scam<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever seen an ad for the latest winter must-have or viral gadget that\u2019s suspiciously cheap, you might have encountered this one. During the holidays, social media scams can skyrocket. \u201cThey involve fake ads for popular items, paired with cloned retailer websites that are designed to steal your payment information,\u201d says Porch\u00e9. The setup feels legit \u2014 the branding matches, the photos are crisp \u2014 but once you check out, either the item never arrives, or worse, your card information ends up in the wrong hands.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to avoid it:<\/strong> Always verify a retailer\u2019s legitimacy before buying. \u201cIf the deal isn\u2019t listed on the retailer\u2019s official website, it\u2019s likely a scam,\u201d Porch\u00e9 advises. And resist clicking on random ads \u2014 some may contain malware that can compromise your personal data.<\/p>\n<h2>2. The Gift Card \u201cEmergency\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>This one preys on generosity (and panic). A text or call comes in from someone claiming to be a friend or family member \u2014 they\u2019re in trouble and ask that you buy a stack of gift cards right now. Sometimes, the scammer spoofs their phone number or uses voice cloning to sound convincing (and just like your loved one). \u201cGift card scams are especially popular during the holidays,\u201d Porch\u00e9 notes. \u201cIf someone asks you for a gift card out of the blue, it\u2019s likely a scam.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to avoid it:<\/strong> No legitimate person or company will ever ask you to pay with gift cards. Take a breath before reacting to urgent requests, and if something feels off, reach out to the person directly through another channel.<\/p>\n<h2>3. The \u201cToo Good To Be True\u201d Vacation Rental<\/h2>\n<p>Scrolling for a cozy cabin or beachfront villa for the holiday season or for a gift of a trip? Be careful. Property scams often involve fake listings on travel sites offering major discounts \u2014 usually on high-demand holiday destinations. Scammers may pose as property owners and move communication to text or personal email, asking for upfront payment via wire transfer or Zelle<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>. \u201cThese scams lure holiday travelers with deals that feel too good to be true,\u201d says Porch\u00e9. Another red flag is when vendors ask for personal documentation or direct payment outside trusted booking platforms.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to avoid it:<\/strong> Book through reputable travel sites with secure payment options and verified listings. Never send money via wire transfer, Zelle, or cash to someone you don\u2019t know personally.<\/p>\n<div><title>DashDividers_1_500x100<\/title><\/div>\n<p>So, how can you spot \u2014 and stop \u2014 a scam before it happens? Sometimes, the warning signs are hiding in plain sight. Porch\u00e9 recommends watching for these red flags: spelling or grammar errors in ads or websites (real brands rarely make those), unverified URLs (always look for \u201chttps:\/\/\u201d in the address bar), pressure tactics (anyone urging you to act immediately to reset a password, send money, or share info is likely trying to manipulate you), and sketchy or no reviews (search the company name with terms like \u201cscam\u201d or \u201ccomplaints\u201d to see what comes up). And remember: Trust your gut. \u201cIf a deal feels too good to be true, it probably is,\u201d Porch\u00e9 says.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to help protect yourself this holiday season<\/strong>: Beyond staying alert, there are tools that can add an extra layer of protection. \u201cDigital banking tools have tons of features to help safeguard your wallets from scams during the holidays,\u201d says Porch\u00e9. Chase customers, for instance, can use the Chase Mobile<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> app to track purchases as they happen and can help you catch unusual activity early. Even better? Chase Credit Journey<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> offers free credit and identity monitoring for everyone \u2014 you don\u2019t even have to be a Chase customer. The tool sends alerts if your data appears in a breach or on the dark web, helping you act fast if your info\u2019s been compromised.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What to do if you\u2019ve been scammed:<\/strong> First, don\u2019t panic \u2014 and don\u2019t feel embarrassed. \u201cScams can happen to anyone,\u201d says Porch\u00e9. Here\u2019s what to do next: Stop contact immediately with the scammer and document everything \u2014 emails, screenshots, or messages can help when filing reports. Call your bank using the number on the back of your card to report the issue, file a police report, and make an inquiry with the FTC. Next, change your passwords across all accounts. Lastly, it may help you feel better and find community (as well as warn others) by sharing your experience, says Porch\u00e9.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Staying safe this season doesn\u2019t mean being paranoid \u2014 it means being proactive. After all, the best gift is peace of mind (and a non-compromised bank account). <\/p>\n<p>For more tips and tricks on spotting scams this holiday season, visit  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chase.com\/holidayscams\">chase.com\/holidayscams<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Zelle<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> and the Zelle<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license. <\/p>\n<p>Chase Mobile<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply. <\/p>\n<p><em>JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Between the shopping trips, flash sales, and donation requests, the holidays are often prime time for scammers. Inboxes can be filled with \u201curgent\u201d updates and texts about surprise account issues, making it harder to determine what\u2019s real and what\u2019s a trap. The truth? Scammers know that this time of year comes with \u2014 distractions, increased [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ecotech"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.cncurc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2798","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.cncurc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.cncurc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.cncurc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.cncurc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2798"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.cncurc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2798\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2799,"href":"http:\/\/www.cncurc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2798\/revisions\/2799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.cncurc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.cncurc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.cncurc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}