Fraud is on the Rise: Protect Yourself This Holiday Season

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Holiday Tips: Protect Yourself from Fraud

November 18, 2025

The holiday season is a time for celebration—but also a peak time for scams. Cybercriminals use this busy period to trick people into giving away personal or financial information. Stay alert and informed to keep your accounts safe.

Common Holiday Scams

Text or Email Scams

  • You receive an unexpected message claiming to be from a trusted source (e.g., FloresHR or your employer).
  • It says your account needs verification and includes a link.
  • The link leads to a fake site that steals your login details and may ask for your One-Time Passcode (OTP).

Phone Call Scams

  • Attackers call pretending to be customer support from your bank, employer, or FloresHR.
  • They create urgency to get your login credentials or OTP.

Fake Websites & Social Media Ads

  • Fraudsters create websites that look like real retail stores, banks, or portals.
  • They also post fake ads on social media to lure you into entering sensitive info.

Card Skimming

  • Devices are placed on ATMs or payment terminals to steal card numbers and PINs.

Public Wi-Fi & Shoulder Surfing

  • Public Wi-Fi is insecure and can expose your data.
  • Attackers may also watch you enter sensitive info in public.

How to Stay Safe

  • Don’t click links in unexpected messages or emails.
  • Check websites for grammar and spelling errors and ensure they use HTTPS:// versus HTTP:// in front of the web address.
  • Never share login details or OTP via phone, email, chat, or text.
  • Avoid clicking ads on social media—search for the company directly.
  • Skip public Wi-Fi or use a VPN if necessary.
  • Use a privacy screen on your device in public.
  • Pay with tap or chip cards; inspect card readers for tampering. If using a card and you cannot use tap or a chip, check to see the other readers look the same as the one you are using.

If You’ve Been Scammed

  • Change passwords and enable two-factor authentication or passkeys.
  • Run an antivirus scan.
  • Notify your bank or affected companies immediately.
  • Monitor accounts for unauthorized transactions.
  • Consider freezing your credit report.