The holiday season is a time for giving, celebrating with loved ones and—of course—shopping. Between snagging the best deals, crossing names off gift lists and managing a flurry of transactions, it’s no surprise that this busy time of year is also a prime season for fraudsters.

Scammers know that when you’re juggling multiple purchases from countless retailers, it’s easy to overlook small red flags. That’s why it’s more important than ever to stay vigilant and protect your personal and financial information.

Why the Holidays Are a Prime Time for Fraudsters

With online shopping, flash sales and last-minute purchases, the volume of transactions for most consumers naturally spikes during the holidays. Fraudsters take advantage of this increased activity, knowing that consumers may not immediately notice unfamiliar charges among dozens of legitimate ones. At the same time, the rush and distractions of the season can make people more susceptible to phishing attempts, fake websites and scam calls or texts.

One of the most common scams Busey has seen lately involves fraudsters posing as members of our fraud department. They may call, text or email pretending to alert customers to “suspicious activity” on their accounts. Once they have your attention, they ask for sensitive information—such as account numbers, passwords or security codes—under the guise of confirming your identity. It’s important to remember that Busey associates will never contact you and ask for this type of information. If someone claiming to be from Busey does, it’s likely a scam.

We’ve also seen an increase in scams driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Fraudsters regularly use AI to create realistic—yet fake—websites, send targeted phishing emails or create deepfake impersonations of trusted individuals or employees of a reputable organization. Be skeptical of unsolicited communications, and avoid clicking on any links in messages that claim to be from a trusted source.

How You Can Protect Yourself

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself and your finances this holiday season:

• Monitor your accounts regularly. Check your online and mobile banking activity often to quickly spot unauthorized transactions.
• Use secure payment methods. Debit and credit cards provide more protection than wire transfers or peer-to-peer payment apps when dealing with fraudulent charges.
• Beware of “too good to be true” deals. Fraudsters often set up fake websites or social media ads offering steep discounts to steal payment information.
• Look closely at emails and texts. Fraudsters often use look-alike email addresses or phone numbers to trick you. Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown sources.
• Do not share sensitive information. Never provide account details, PINs or online banking credentials over the phone, email or text—even if the person claims to be a Busey associate.
• Enable account alerts. Set up notifications for transactions, low balances or unusual activity to stay informed in real time.

How Busey Protects You

At Busey, your safety and security are our top priorities. Our fraud protection solutions are designed to help keep your finances secure, especially during the high-traffic holiday season.

• 24/7 fraud monitoring. Our advanced systems monitor your accounts around the clock, looking for unusual patterns or suspicious transactions.
• Alerts and notifications. We’ll contact you immediately if we detect suspicious activity, but we’ll never ask for sensitive details like your account number, PIN or password.
• Secure banking tools. With features like multifactor authentication and real-time transaction alerts through Busey’s digital banking options, you have access to the tools needed to shop smarter and safer.
• Local support. Our dedicated associates are here to help answer your questions and guide you if you think you’ve been targeted by a scam.

Shop With Confidence

The holidays should be filled with joy, not stress over scams or fraud. By staying alert, protecting your personal information and taking advantage of Busey’s fraud protection solutions, you can shop with confidence and focus on what matters most—making memories with family and friends.

At Busey, we’re committed to keeping you informed and secure not just during the holidays, but every day of the year. If you believe you’ve been the victim of fraud or a scam on a Busey account, contact our Customer Care team, reach out to your Relationship Manager or visit your local Banking Center to place a fraud alert on your account. You can also read our Fraud Prevention FAQs for more information or check out our Fraud Prevention Toolkit.