Announcements

As the holiday season approaches, it’s important to be extra vigilant, as scams tend to increase during this time. Protect yourself by staying alert and cautious. Here are some key tips to help you avoid holiday scams and keep your personal and financial information safe:

1. Review online purchases carefully: Purchase goods and services from vendors you’re familiar with and verify all URLs before completing an online transaction. Be aware of the common methods scammers use in the online holiday marketplace, including:

• Gift card scams: Avoid purchasing gift cards from websites claiming to sell them for a discount.
• Phishing emails and text scams: Pause before clicking links in unrecognized emails or texts promising holiday discounts or deals.
• Fake contests and giveaways: Verify the offer’s legitimacy by using a separate browser to go directly to the company’s website.
• Lookalike online shops: Review URLs before opening to ensure that they’re the official websites of trusted vendors. They should always begin with https:// and include a padlock icon.
• Too good to be true offers: Be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true.
• Monitor transactions closely: Regularly monitor banking and credit card transactions to quickly catch and report any fraudulent activity.

2. Choose secure payment methods: Always use traceable credit or debit cards with fraud protection and avoid payment apps like Venmo, CashApp and other peer-to-peer payments for online purchases.

3. Be on the lookout for skimming devices: They may be installed on card readers and are used to collect card numbers. You can help prevent these devices from stealing your card information by:

• Tapping or inserting the card’s chip versus swiping
• Covering the pad when typing in your PIN
• Comparing the card reader you’re using with nearby card readers to confirm that they’re the same
• Checking the security seals if you’re at a gas station

4. Avoid public wifi while online shopping: To prevent hackers from gaining access to your information:

• Avoid shopping online when using public wifi
• Use a reputable password manager or change your password regularly. Passwords should include numbers, capital letters and special characters
• Never share your credit card number over the phone if you’re in a public space

5. Verify donation requests: Research charities before donating, use secure payment methods and avoid donating via text or email links to prevent phishing scams.

Capital Group prioritizes the safety of your accounts through fraud protection and awareness initiatives. We provide resources and guidelines to help investors stay informed about and vigilant against potential scams and cybercrimes. By following these tips, you can help safeguard your personal and financial information.