The holidays are coming, and unfortunately that means fraud and scams are on the horizon. Here are some ways to protect yourself from increased fraud over the holidays:

Online shopping:

• Make sure websites begin with "https" and have a padlock icon in the browser window to indicate it’s a secure connection.
• Do not enter sensitive information or make purchases when connected to unsecured public wifi networks.
• Be cautious of ads on social media that direct you to sketchy websites or ask you to pay with gift cards.

Account protection:

• Create strong, unique passwords for each new account and enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible. Never share your password.
• Check your bank and credit card statements often. Set up alerts for transactions and unusual activity.
• Don't click on links or open attachments from unknown senders; if you receive an email or text from a suspicious address or unknown number, contact the company directly using a phone number you find independently.

If You're Scammed:

Contact us immediately to report any unauthorized charges on your credit or debit card.

File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and/or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.