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Stay Spooky and Secure: Halloween Safety Tips to Protect Your Finances

Halloween is all about fun, costumes, and sweets, but it’s also an opportune time for fraudsters who capitalize on the season’s chaos. At SRIFCU, we want you to enjoy all the Halloween festivities with peace of mind. Here are some key tips to keep you and your finances safe from the tricks you didn’t sign up for:

1. Beware of Phishing Tricks

During Halloween, you might notice an increase in promotional emails and pop-up deals for costumes, treats, and haunted attractions. Be cautious of “too good to be true” offers, which could be phishing attempts designed to collect your personal or financial information. Look out for emails with poor grammar, misspelled URLs, or suspicious attachments. As a rule of thumb, never click on unsolicited links or enter your login details on websites unless you’re certain they’re legitimate.

Pro Tip: When in doubt, go directly to a retailer’s official website instead of clicking on email links. For added safety, SRIFCU provides fraud monitoring on all credit and debit cards. Contact us if you notice anything suspicious.

2. Watch Out for Skimmers at Haunted and Pop-Up Locations

The Halloween season brings with it many pop-up stores and temporary events like haunted houses and pumpkin patches. Be vigilant at these locations, as they can sometimes be targets for card skimming devices. Skimmers capture your card’s data, which can be used later for fraudulent charges.

Pro Tip: If you’re paying at an outdoor or temporary location, consider using a digital wallet or contactless payment, which reduces your exposure to skimmers. Many of our credit union cards support secure contactless payments for this very reason.

3. Secure Your Accounts with Strong Passwords and Alerts

Even though costumes change with each Halloween, one thing shouldn’t: your online security. Make sure your online banking account has a strong, unique password and set up alerts to notify you of any unusual activity.

Pro Tip: At SRIFCU, you can enable real-time alerts that notify you of any suspicious transactions or login attempts. It’s a simple way to stay informed and act quickly if anything looks out of place.

4. Be Wary of Social Media Scams and “Free” Halloween Deals

Social media is buzzing with Halloween-themed quizzes, costume contests, and freebies. However, some of these could be traps to steal personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive information or clicking on unfamiliar links, even if they appear to come from friends or trusted sources.

Pro Tip: If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a deal or contest, visit the official website of the company offering it. Many reputable organizations post their contests and promotions there as well. Your credit union’s fraud team is also available to answer questions about suspicious activity.

5. Protect Your Kids’ and Family’s Data

If your kids are trick-or-treating or participating in Halloween events, ensure they’re only visiting safe and trusted locations. Additionally, many Halloween apps and games aimed at kids can request excessive permissions or data.

Pro Tip: Monitor what information is being shared through apps and encourage your family to avoid downloading unknown apps without checking reviews and privacy settings. As your credit union, we take your family’s privacy seriously and can offer tips on safe digital habits.

6. Keep Your Credit Card Contact Info Handy

Halloween can be hectic, and losing track of your credit or debit card while out and about can happen to anyone. If you do lose your card, report it immediately to prevent unauthorized use.

Pro Tip: Make a note of your credit union’s card contact information and have it saved on your phone. SRIFCU offers 24/7 support for lost or stolen cards, so you can be confident that we’re here to help when you need it.


This Halloween, let’s all take a little extra care to avoid the scams that can take the fun out of the season. For any questions about account security, fraud protection, or safe online banking tips, contact us at connect@srifcu.org Stay safe, stay spooky, and remember—your credit union is here to keep the financial “tricks” away!

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