A Holiday Must: Protect Those Digits
11/30/2022
It is the holiday season – goodwill to all, right? Unfortunately, it is also the favorite time of year for scammers, identity thieves and other cybercriminals. Whether you prefer the convenience of e-commerce shopping or spending a day at the mall with the family, your personal digits are at risk.
This week, Nov. 28 – Dec. 2, is National Tax Security Awareness Week. TXCPA, the IRS and the Security Summit encourage everyone to watch out for holiday scams and guard your personal financial information during the heightened threat of fraudulent activity.
The global information services company, Experian, reminds consumers to be vigilant when shopping online, safeguard your passwords, check for skimming devices, not shop on public Wi-Fi and verify requests for donations. Other helpful tips are to say “no thanks” to department store cards that arrive in the mail, check your banking and card transactions often, verify app authenticity, and do not click unfamiliar email or “smishing” text links. Children, teens and young adults with access to credit cards or shopping accounts are especially vulnerable and often targets for scams – have a family meeting to gauge their awareness.
Enjoy the season with family and find that special gift but remember to protect those digits.
6 Tips to Avoid Holiday Scams and Protect Your Identity in 2022 - Experian
IRS Publication 5461, Protect Personal and Financial Information Online
Fraud and scams | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov)
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