Some Safe Online Shopping Tips for This Holiday Season

  1. Verify the business – check with the Better Business Bureau or Trust-e, sites that can provide insight into a business’s legitimacy.
  2. Shopping on a mobile device – Smartphones have the ability to do what computers can do nowadays, but they are not as protected against threats like your desktop. Visit only sites you know and trust when shopping on line. Criminals have the ability to get malware on your mobile device and steal your information because they are not equipped with anti-virus software. Always make sure everything is password protected so it’s not easily accessed if it’s lost or stolen.
  3. Don’t use public Wi-Fi to shop – Anytime you enter personal information using a public network, you are setting yourself up for identity theft. Most Wi-Fi hotspots don’t encrypt your data so any hacker with the right software sharing the Wi-Fi can steal your information. Be aware when you’re using a hotspot that any information you send through the internet could be picked up by strangers; if it’s information that could make you vulnerable, wait until you get home to your protected network. It might be a little more of a hassle, but it’s much safer.
  4. Pay with Credit Card/Check your Statements – Using a credit card is really the only way to shop on line. If you buy something from a scam site with a check, cash or a debit card there is no way to get your money back. If you pay with a credit card, the card companies have to reimburse for fraudulent charges under the Fair Credit Billing Act. You must look at your statements frequently and contact your credit card company if something doesn’t look right.
  5. Don’t click on Links in emails –You should always type out the address in the browser to make sure you’re going to the site you want to visit. Many phishing scams involve emails from sites that you might know and trust, but then send you to sites where they can gather your information to steal your identity. Remember real sites won’t ask for important information over email. If you have any doubts about an email’s authenticity, go to the company’s website and get in contact with them.
  6. Know the Privacy Policy – Read the company’s privacy policy before you check it off. Most of us just have a tendency to gloss over this information, especially when it’s combined together with the terms of service that we all say we’ve read and agreed to, but it’s important if you want to know if your personal data is encrypted and secure or can’t be sold to any third parties. What you don’t know can hurt you.
  7. Trust Your Gut – If at any time during your on line shopping experience something doesn’t feel right. If the site is asking too many personal questions and you think you should abort mission and leave behind the deals you found then that is what you should do. If you have any doubts or worries about the site, listen to your instincts and walk away.