Shopping Tips For Online Security

Black Friday is just four days away – are you ready? Are your finances?

In addition to staying within your budget this holiday season and finding the perfect gift for your mom, be sure your holiday spending is safe and secure with a few important tips from our partners at Kasasa.

We like to find just the right thing for everyone on our list, but sometimes that items we are eyeing online is coming from a website or vendor overseas. As part of the security of Dakota West Card Services, we watch for purchases from online stores based overseas, but it is also a good idea to know the retailer from which you are making your gift purchases.

Avoid purchasing from ads embedded into social media websites, such as Facebook or Twitter. Instead, search for the item on a known website such as Amazon, or even through a local seller. In addition to protecting your finances, it may also be protecting your identity.

Scams and frauds also increase during the holidays, so be certain where you are sending donations. Lastly, never purchase gift cards or eCards for someone you don’t know – they may be trying to take advantage of your being on Santa’s “Nice” list.

As always, if an offer or a deal or a website sound too good to be true, call your local branch and we will be willing to help you make the best choices to keep you, and your finances, safe this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Dakota West Credit Union!

Say Farewell Gift Cards

You may be thinking about purchasing a Visa® gift card this holiday season for someone on your shopping list. Dakota West currently offers Visa® gift cards available in any dollar amount, however, this offering will be ending when supplies have been sold out. With the ability to purchase gift cards directly through many online retailers and websites, we know there are other products and services we can offer to our members to serve you better.

This time of year, whether shopping online or in person, with increased spending and activity, it is important to remember smart security tips when using your Dakota West Mastercard® Debit or Credit Card, too. We keep up-to-date on ways hackers and thieves attempt to access information, and share with our membership the practices Dakota West follows to secure your identity or alert you to possible fraudulent activity. Most importantly, we always recommend to be mindful of your surroundings and your usage, check online regularly for recent transactions, and contact your local branch at 800.411.7590 if you have any questions.

Wherever you travel, whatever your plans, we want you to enjoy the holiday season, from Thanksgiving through Christmas, and into the New Year. We will be here to serve you, to keep your finances secure, and to celebrate another year having you as our members.