How to keep your money, personal info safe this holiday season

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - As holiday shopping ramps up online and in stores, financial experts warn shoppers to stay alert.

Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and a single wrong click can put shoppers' personal and financial information at risk.

Jerri Phillips, Senior Vice President and Chief Member Services Officer at Land of Lincoln Credit Union, said she sees more people fall victim every year, often because deals online seem too good to pass up.

"Know what website you're on. That's so important. It may be the most important thing," Phillips said.

She explained that scammers often lure shoppers through social media ads that look legitimate but are designed to steal personal information.

"They see this item that just seems too good to be true. It usually is too good to be true, and you're just going to get scammed and they're going to steal your information and they're going to take money out of your account."

Phillips said even her own family has been targeted. She told WAND News her mother and father were both victims.

She emphasized how quickly innocent mistakes can snowball. Victims often get their money back eventually, but the process is stressful and can leave accounts overdrawn.

"It can take time, and it can cause trouble for your account. You can go negative. You can get charged fees, and we don't want that for anybody."

If someone realizes they have been scammed, Phillips said they need to act immediately. That means calling the financial institution and getting the card turned off. Land of Lincoln Credit Union offers a banking app, and people can turn their card off through the app.

Even legitimate-looking emails and shipping updates can be traps. Phillips said scammers send fake messages containing malicious links. She added that fake delivery texts are also popular this time of year.

"Sometimes you will get fake texts or fake emails, and you'll think it's from that company, but it's not. And you click on the link, and then it's going to take you to a fictitious site."

She warned that these sites often trick consumers into giving away card numbers or passwords. Shoppers should always go directly to the retailer's website — never through a text or email link — to track packages or check order status.

For those heading out to stores, Phillips said the risks are different but just as serious. She recommended shoppers only carry the cards they need and keep them all in one place so they are easier to track.

"Don't take your big purse or your big wallet with all of the things in it. Just take the cards that you know you're going to need. Put them in one little thing so you know where you're going, and make sure you put it back every single time," Phillips said.

She added that contactless payments help reduce the chance of losing a card during checkout.

"You can just touch it. It makes it easier for you to keep a hold of your card so you don't ever let go of it."

Public Wi-Fi networks also pose risks, especially for shoppers bouncing between stores. Phillips said scammers sometimes create fake Wi-Fi networks designed to look like a business's real connection. She recommended sticking to cellular data unless shoppers are absolutely sure they are connected to the correct network.

Phone scams also rise during the holiday season, and Phillips said consumers should never give their account information to anyone who calls unexpectedly.

"Never give anyone on the phone or in an email your account login information. Don't give them your account number. Don't give them your PIN numbers. Don't give them your user IDs. Nothing."

Finally, Phillips said shoppers should also avoid overspending. It's another issue that can leave people vulnerable financially heading into the new year.

"It's an easy time to overspend. I've been guilty of it myself. And then I get myself in a bind. January comes around and those bills come around, and I'm like, 'Oh my gosh.'"

She said consumers should stick to a list, avoid impulse buying, and consider safer financing options if needed.

"Go to your financial institution. Ask for maybe a personal loan to get that paid off. You're going to get a lower rate on an unsecured loan than you would on any credit card you have."

For more tips, click here.

Traffic diverted due to large gas leak in Paris

Skull found in Springfield now identified as remains of man who went missing in 2021

Community rallies around young leukemia patient in Maroa