Depending upon the method you choose to be communicated to by your bank/CU institution, they will send you a notification. If they detect or suspect fraud, they will call you, send an email or tweet. However, when they do, they don't talk to you or engage you except to confirm the transactions or deny it.

If you deny it, you are asked to contact them at the number provided. This makes for one of the most difficult detections, because the majority of the time, it really is your financial institution alerting you as soon as they can.

If you made a purchase, respond by typing yes to the text stream. Ignoring the email is a sign to them that you did make the purchase.

If they call, it will be an automated message asking you to type "YES" or "NO" in response to whether you made the purchase or not.. NEVER SAY "yes" verbally to such a message. Scammers delight when they can record the word "YES" by a victim. It is a golden passcode to all sorts of trouble. If you say you did not make the purchase, they will usually instruct you to call the fraud alert phone number on the back of your credit card.

FRAUD CLUE # 1 IF AN INSTITUTION CALLS SAYING THEY SUSPECT FRAUD AND THERE IS A LIVE PERSON ON THE PHONE-BE VERY CAREFUL!! Unless you recognize the person on the other end, like a concerned staff member from your local credit union, there is a very high chance the notification is a scam. Hang UP if the voice is unfamiliar.

What You Need to Do

• Respond only to automated requests via your keypad (yes or no).
• If you are concerned about it, immediately call the fraud number on the back of your credit card.
• If you suspect it was a scammer, report it as spam and block it if that is an option.
• Delete it immediately after reporting it.

OUR ADVICE
With the holiday season upon us and the busy after-season bargain sprees to follow, be extra cautious about your personal identity. It often happens when we are off guard.