Protect yourself while purchasing these gifts, a warning as the holiday shopping season approaches

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Plumas Bank is warning the community ahead of the holiday shopping season. It says debit card fraud is the main way people are scammed, and goes hand in hand with online banking fraud.

Scammers pose as your banking institution and send customers fraud alerts when certain transactions are made. The alert may come via a phone call or a link to your email. Scammers may be looking for your information or may already have it and need the rest. They will then ask for your password, PIN and account number, pretending to help you.

Vice President of Digital Banking at Plumas Bank Sarena Barker says you should always check who contacted you: “The best thing you can do is pick up your phone and call your bank and say, ‘Hey, I just got this notification . I want to see it.’ if it’s legit. What a bank will never do is ask you for your password, your PIN, your login details or any other login details.”

The bank also says consumers will receive urgent or emotional emails during the holidays. Such as a sale that may end soon or asking for a donation to an organization. It is recommended that you always check the source of the email.