How Not to get fooled by Cybercrooks during the 2024 holiday season:

1. Be on the lookout for look-alike products phony websites and fake stores
2. Don’t rely completely on price or customer ratings
3. Don’t click on links on online solicitations
4. Check for customer service information
5. Buy with a credit card. Do NOT purchase from sellers who want payment by gift card, peer-to-peer apps, or cryptocurrency!

What to Do if You are Scammed:

1. Immediately call and report the same to the appropriate bank, credit card company, or website
2. Always get the correct phone number from the back of your credit card; never from an email, which can be fake.
3. Contact one of the three credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion to add a fraud alert and help prevent identity theft that will alert others.

Precautions for All:

1. Use two-factor authentication to log into all of your accounts
2. Set up real-time notifications for any financial account activity