How to Prevent Fraud & Avoid Online Scams this Christmas & New Year

The Christmas season is a busy time for many, filled with shopping, travelling, and preparing for the New Year. During this period, it's important to stay alert, as fraudsters often take advantage of the holiday rush to try to scam people.

At Avant Money, we’re committed to helping you stay safe with your finances. To avoid online scams and prevent fraud, being careful is key. Whether you’re shopping online or getting unexpected emails or messages, it’s crucial to recognise scam material and prevent fraud as well as knowing what to do if it happens to you.

How to prevent and manage fraud

Fraud can happen at any time, but it will normally increase during busy periods like Christmas. Fraudsters often take advantage of the Christmas season, sending messages that appear to be from trusted sources, requesting personal details or payment information.

WWe encourage you to be extra careful with any messages that ask you to click on links or provide your bank or credit card details. Always confirm if a message is real before you reply.

If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to a scam, it's important to act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card provider immediately to report the issue. If you are victim to fraud on your Avant Money Credit Card, please contact the number on the back of your card or refer to our contact details on our Avant Money official website. If you're targeted by cybercrime, reach out to your local Garda station, and keep any evidence.

Remember, if you are an Avant Money customer:

• We will never ask for your card details or my.avantmoney.ie login information, no matter the situation.
• We will never ask for your 3D secure OTP (One Time Passcode), answers to security questions, or for you to accept a push notification to cancel a fraudulent transaction.
• We will never request you to log in to your Avant Money account via a link in an email or text message. If you’re unsure about any communication claiming to be from us, don’t hesitate to contact us to confirm it is real.

Bankinter S.A., trading as Avant Money, is authorised by the Banco de España in Spain and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for consumer protection rules.