"Protect Yourself from Holiday Scams: Tips and Tools to Stay Safe"

Holiday shoppers who procrastinate and shop at the last minute are at a higher risk of falling victim to fraud, according to Paul Fabara, Chief Risk Officer at Visa. Crooks take advantage of last-minute offers and discounts, often guaranteeing quick delivery, to trick consumers into making purchases. This can lead to disappointment when the ordered products are not received, followed by unauthorized transactions on the victim's card. Fabara advises contacting the financial institution immediately if scammed and recommends using multifactor authentication to protect against AI impersonation. Visa has identified five categories of fraud to watch out for this season, including digital skimming, phishing, ATM skimming, one-time-passcode bypass schemes, and physical theft.