Santa’s Checklist for Safe Christmas Shopping
Straight from Santa’s workshop, our NRFCU elves have compiled a list of musts when finishing up your holiday shopping in the coming weeks! Keep these following items below in mind when shopping online or in-store!
Before you shop, make sure you contact your financial institution to check your credit or debit card limits. You don’t want to be checking out and have your card get declined! Let a representative know that you plan on shopping and may need to increase your limit.
Use a credit card instead of a debit card. If for some reason your card information is compromised and incurs fraud charges, it is much easier for your bank to get you your money back! Plus, why not build your credit or take advantage of credit card rewards that many financial institutions offer? (Speaking of rewards, check out NRFCU’s Visa Credit Card, which has some incredible perks that you can learn more about here!)
When shopping online, only use secure sites. Be weary of websites you find through Facebook ads or pop-ups. A good rule of thumb - look for the lock up near the website name in your browser. This ensures a secure connection and that your payment information is safe.
Create strong passwords for all of your accounts. Any account that you allow your payment information to be attached to, make sure your passwords are not easy to crack. Write down all of your passwords in a secure notebook you keep hidden in your home!
Check your statements regularly. If you make it a habit to check on the transactions that go on within your accounts, you’ll be more likely to catch something that you didn’t approve. Bonus: you’ll be aware of what you’re actually spending each month!
We hope all of these tips help you shop smart and shop safely this holiday season. And from our team at NRFCU, we wish you the Happiest Holidays! If you’re struggling financially, consider taking advantage of our Holiday Loan Sale, happening now until 12/22/2020!