Stay Safe While Holiday Shopping: Don’t Let Scammers Spoil the Spirit

(3 Minute Read) —  As we head into the holiday shopping season, the deals, ads, and temptations start to multiply. Unfortunately, so do the scams. The FTC warns about clever offers that look too good to pass up but are actually traps designed to take your money or steal your data.

At Unitus, your financial safety and peace of mind are priorities. We want you to enjoy giving, not stress over fraud. Here are tips and strategies to shop smart, protect your accounts, and spot suspicious offers before they hit you.

Common Scam Tactics to Watch Out For

These are some of the most frequent tricks fraudsters use around the holidays:

• Crazy low prices on high-demand items
  If an item (designer bag, latest gadget, etc.) is priced way below normal, that’s a red flag. Scammers replicate brand logos and product photos from legitimate sites to fool you.
• Pressure-sales tactics (“limited stock,” “buy now or lose it”)
  These are meant to push you into impulsively handing over money before you check legitimacy.
• Demand for unsafe forms of payment
  Never pay via gift cards, wire transfers, unverified payment apps, or cryptocurrency to a seller you don’t know. These are favorite ways scams force one-way payments.
• Fake or copied sites/domain trickery
  Fraudsters may create websites that look almost identical to real retailers. Mistyped URLs, small misspellings, or alternate domain endings are common signals.
• Nonexistent or fake refunds/shipping
  A scammer might charge you, then never deliver — or send something completely different.

How to Shop Smart (and Safely)

Here’s what you can do from the Unitus perspective to protect yourself:

Research the seller before you buy

Search for the seller’s name + “reviews,” “scam,” or “complaints.” You’d be surprised how fast negative feedback shows up if a site is fraudulent.

Read the fine print

Check refund policies, who pays for return shipping, restocking fees, and whether there’s a guarantee. If it’s not clearly stated, proceed with extra caution.

Use a credit card when possible

Credit cards typically offer stronger fraud protection and allow you to dispute unauthorized charges.

Leverage your Unitus tools

• If a purchase looks suspicious, turn off your card until you verify.
• Set card alerts, transaction notifications, or card controls with Card Management in Digital Banking.
• Monitor your accounts frequently so you catch odd activity fast.

Report trouble immediately

If a seller fails to deliver or you suspect fraud:

1. Contact the seller and ask to resolve it directly.
2. If that doesn’t work, contact us to dispute the charge.
3. Learn what to do if you’ve been scammed.

Bringing It Back to You

The holidays are a time of connection, joy, and thoughtful giving—not regret or financial stress. At Unitus, we’re here to help you celebrate safely and smartly.

• Use your Unitus rewards, cards, alerts, and digital tools to shop confidently
• Don’t let a scammer take your money—or your joy
• If you ever see suspicious charges or just want support deciding if a site is legit, we’re always ready to help

Stay safe, shop wisely, and enjoy a brighter, stress-free holiday season.