Shop Smart: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself from Fraud This Holiday Season

The holidays are a time for giving—and for shopping! But while you’re searching for the perfect gifts, scammers are searching for opportunities to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers. The good news is that a few smart moves can help keep your finances and personal information safe.

Here are three easy ways to protect yourself from fraud this season, brought to you by your team at Educational Community Alliance Credit Union.

1. Stick to Trusted Sites and Secure Connections

Before entering any payment details online, make sure the website address begins with “https://” and displays a padlock icon in the browser bar—both indicate a secure connection. Avoid clicking on links from emails or ads that seem “too good to be true.” When in doubt, go directly to the retailer’s official website.

💡 Bonus tip: Skip public Wi-Fi when shopping or banking online. Use your mobile data or a secure network instead.

2. Use Card Controls in Card Campus

Your Educational Community Alliance Credit Union debit and credit cards come with built-in security tools through Card Campus. The best part is, you can access Card Campus right inside mobile and online banking! You can:

  • Instantly lock or unlock your card if it’s misplaced
  • Set spending limits or geographic restrictions
  • Receive real-time transaction alerts

These controls give you extra confidence while you shop—whether you’re buying in-store, online, or on the go.

💡 Bonus tip: Add your card to a mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay for another layer of security.

3. Monitor Your Accounts Regularly

Check your accounts frequently in online or mobile banking, especially during the busy holiday season. Look out for small or unfamiliar transactions—these can be early signs of fraud. If you see anything suspicious, contact Educational Community Alliance Credit Union right away so we can help secure your account.

💡 Bonus tip: Set up account alerts to automatically notify you of purchases or unusual activity.

Shop Confidently with Educational Community Alliance Credit Union

With these precautions—and the powerful tools in Card Campus—you can enjoy your holiday shopping with peace of mind. From all of us at Educational Community Alliance Credit Union, we wish you a safe, happy, and fraud-free holiday season!

Posted by Maggie Latham in Fraud & Scams.