How to Protect Yourself From Common Holiday Season Scams

The holiday season is known by many to be the most wonderful time of the year. Unfortunately, this is especially true for scammers.

Emotions are high, generosity is flourishing, and criminals are relentless. Coupled with sophisticated scamming tactics, these schemers are more dangerous than ever — and simply being trusting can cost you thousands.

Common Holiday Season Scams

There are many types of scams that typically take place during the holidays. Here are a few to keep on your radar.

How to Reconnect With Family For The Holidays

Spending time with family and friends is one of the best things about the holiday season. While many people stay connected with their extended family on social media throughout the year, time, distance, and other factors may cause you to lose touch with those you were once close with.

The holidays can be a natural and much-needed excuse to get back in touch with loved ones. If you and the family member in question had a falling out, you may want to proceed with caution and consider whether now is an appropriate time to reach out (though most with the benefit of years will exhort not to wait until it is too late, lamenting that they didn’t ditch the drama and reconcile years earlier). However, if you simply lost touch over the years and you think that person would be receptive to a conversation, look them up and take the first step toward reconnecting.

Dysfunctional Family? How To Survive The Holiday Season

It’s easy to be excited about holiday gatherings when you get along with your relatives. For some of us, however, a dysfunctional family dynamic can be a source of intense stress this time of year. Emotional difficulties with family members are often exacerbated by hectic holiday travel and being stuck in close quarters together, which makes this season less than jolly for many people.

If you’re dreading seeing certain relatives for the holidays, there are things you can do to mitigate the anxiety. Mentally prepare yourself to cope during your family’s gathering with these four tips: