Fraud Prevention for the Holidays

Posted on October 04, 2024

The holidays come with more spending, more travel, and—unfortunately—more fraud. We know fraud is the last thing you want to deal with (ever, but especially during the holiday season), so we’re here to equip you with tools that will keep your money safe, while also making life easier.

MasterCard

As you shop for the holiday season, you can rest assured that we have fraud protection for your cards in place. Your United Community Mastercard debit card comes with MasterCard ID Theft Protection¹, free of charge.

MasterCard ID Theft Protection¹ will monitor your identity, watch for high-risk transactions, and alert you of possible thefts by monitoring the surface, dark, and deep web, comprised credentials, and any potentially damaging use of your registered personal information. You’ll also have access to MasterCard’s team of identity theft resolution specialists who are available 24/7 to help resolve cardholders’ identity theft incidents and prevent further damage.

Zelle

Whether you’re splitting the cost of a gift, a Christmas party, or just the dinner check, Zelle^® is an easy and secure way to send your friends and family money.¹ When you use Zelle^® within United’s mobile app or online banking, your information is protected with the same technology we use to keep your bank account safe. On top of that, it’s important to verify your recipient’s information before sending money and only use Zelle^® to pay people you know and trust to make sure your account stays secure.¹

Card Controls

With increased spending and a likely hectic schedule, Card Controls is an essential tool to take advantage of. The spending insights will show you what, when, and where you’re spending your money, so you can make sure you’re staying on budget while you’re buying gifts and traveling. It’ll also show you if your card is used somewhere it shouldn’t be—so you can take immediate action on any suspected fraud. If you do see a suspicious transaction, use Card Controls to turn your debit card off and then contact us immediately. We’ll help you take the next right steps so you can get back to enjoying the holidays.

eStatements

As holiday mailings increase, so do the chances of your mailbox becoming a target for theft. eStatements are an easy way to protect your information—instead of sitting in your mailbox and potentially getting stolen before you get home, your statements can be sent straight to your email inbox. You can sign up for eStatements through online banking, and you’ll receive an email when your statements are ready to view, no matter where you are. You can also access all your previous statements in one convenient location.

Bill Pay

Put your bills on autopilot and skip the stress of keeping track of payments while you’re celebrating the holidays and visiting family. Bill Pay makes it easy to pay all your bills in one place, without having to log in to every vendor’s website and remember all your usernames and passwords. Bill Pay can also help you keep your documents safe—with the document vault, you can securely store digital copies of sensitive documents like bills and tax documents. We’re always here to help you keep your financial information safe. If you have any questions or need help setting up any of these services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

For more information on fraud prevention tips around the holidays, click the button below.

Fraud Prevention Tips

¹Certain terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Cardholders need to register for this service. This service is provided by Iris® Powered by Generali. Please see your guide to benefits for details or call 1-800-MASTERCARD.

Zelle® is a U.S.-based digital payments network that allows eligible customers to send money between you and others enrolled with Zelle®. The services referenced are provided exclusively by Zelle®. Your use of such services is solely at your election and is subject to United Community Bank’s (“United”) Online Banking Terms and Conditions and Terms of Use for Zelle®. Certain restrictions apply for use of the service.

ZELLE® SHOULD ONLY BE USED TO SEND MONEY TO FRIENDS, FAMILY OR OTHERS YOU KNOW AND TRUST. Neither United Community nor Zelle® offers purchase protection for payments made with Zelle® – for example, if you do not receive the item you paid for or the item is not as described or as you expected. See our Online Banking Service Agreement for further details.

Zelle® is available through United Online Banking or the United mobile app. Funds must be available in the funding account when you set up your payment. There is no fee for enrolling with or sending money using Zelle® in United Online Banking or the United mobile app. Other fees (such as stop payment, overdraft fees, or transaction fees) may apply. Refer to your Truth in Savings and Miscellaneous Fee Schedule for details. 1. Mobile network carrier fees may apply. Check with your mobile phone carrier for details. 2. U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle®. Transactions between enrolled consumers typically occur in minutes. App store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android, Google Play, and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.