Stay safe from scams and fraud this holiday season

The holidays bring joy—and unfortunately, an increase in scams. Cybercriminals know shoppers are looking for big deals, so it’s important to stay alert.  

This year, fraud attempts are surging: Visa reported blocking 140% more presumed fraud on Black Friday 2025 compared to last year. With top spending categories like apparel, electronics, home improvement, and retail goods, scammers are targeting where you shop most. 

Here’s how to protect yourself and your family. 

Avoid too-good-to-be-true offers 

• Be cautious of high-urgency messages like “Activate your $100 gift card now.”
• Check email senders — unfamiliar addresses or those that don’t include an official retailer’s URL are a red flag.
• Hover over links before clicking them to confirm the URL.
• Never download unusual attachments.

Safe online shopping tips 

• Shop only on official retailer websites.
• Use multi-factor authentication (text, Face ID, phone call) whenever possible.

General online safety 

• Don’t reuse or share passwords.
• No financial institution will ever:
  • Ask for your account info
  • Call asking for verification codes
• Communicate with family and loved ones about scams — sharing what you hear helps protect everyone.

If you’ve been scammed 

Document everything and file a police report — they may know how to help.  

Next, contact your financial institution. Elevations has a dedicated fraud team to help.  

 Learn about how Elevations can protect you 

Extra protection with Peak Perks Checking 

Even with precautions, fraud can happen. Peak Perks Checking offers: 

• Up to $10,000 identity theft expense reimbursement coverage$$Disclosure:Specialprogramnotes$$
• Identity theft resolution services
• Identity theft monitoring
• Dark web monitoring
• Real-time credit monitoring and tracking
• Cyber recovery support