The holiday season brings more packages, donation requests and messages from people claiming to represent businesses or loved ones, creating new opportunities for scammers.

Western North Carolina seniors and their families can protect themselves by building a few straightforward habits into everyday decisions.

North Carolina's Department of Justice warns that holiday fraud can include fake online stores, misleading offers, impersonators and requests designed to create panic.

The most useful first rule is to slow down whenever someone demands immediate action.

A caller may claim a relative is in trouble, an account has been frozen or a shipment cannot be delivered without an urgent payment.

Pressure and secrecy are warning signs, particularly if the caller insists that nobody else should be contacted.

Second, verify the request using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate, rather than a number supplied in the suspicious message.

An unexpected text with a package-tracking link is not proof that a delivery company sent it.

Third, be wary of payment requests involving gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers, which can make recovering money difficult.

A legitimate business or government office should not require gift cards to resolve an alleged emergency.

Fourth, check unfamiliar sellers before ordering, especially when a price seems far below what established stores charge.

Look for independent contact information, clear return rules and a history that makes sense, while remembering that an attractive website can be copied quickly.

Fifth, talk with someone you trust before sending money in an emotionally charged situation.

That conversation may be especially helpful when a scammer impersonates a grandchild, a military service member or another family member in distress.

Fraud affects people of every age, and embarrassment should never stop someone from reporting what happened.

Residents who suspect a scam can contact the North Carolina Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM, also written as 1-877-566-7226.

People who have shared financial or account information should contact their financial institution or the affected service promptly using trusted contact details.

Saving texts, email messages, receipts and transaction records can help when filing a report.

A short family conversation about common scams can be a useful part of holiday planning, especially for relatives who live far apart.

The goal is not to fear every unexpected message but to make verification a normal habit.

A pause, a second opinion and a trusted phone number can prevent a stressful moment from becoming an expensive one.