This year’s Black Friday is expected to reach record spending. This includes Cyber Monday, the online digital version. (Cyber Five, which is the five days of deals between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday, for 2024 is projeced to surpass nearly $40 billion⇗.)
It’s a great time to make that needed purchase or replace any electronics or gear. But it’s also a time of dangerous online scams trying to steal shopper information.
Stay safe with these tips this upcoming holiday shopping season.
Keep Software & Accounts Updated
Update software you’re using for your regular online browsing and shopping, including operating systems, anti-virus and browsers.
Also ensure your accounts have strong passwords with multi-factor authentication so your login is protected. This also helps avoid random, unauthorized purchases.
Verify URL on Websites & Ensure HTTPS
Make sure you use trusted, reputable websites. This includes popular third-party shopping websites like Amazon, or eBay. If you’ve gotten deals by email, verify the sender if authentic by checking the email address ends in the company name (such as [email protected]).
Check the URL to make sure your on the right page avoiding commonly misspelled words or extra letters also. If unsure of a company’s URL, it’s best to go to your major search engine (like Google, or Bing) and search the brand.
Also ensure your browser has a lock next to the URL and includes https://. This verifies your connection to the website is secure.
Deals Too Good
If you see deals with very big discounts, they’re probably too good to be true and best to avoid. Closely inspect images and details, check other steps and even contact the seller directly if needed to verify a deal.
Use Trusted Payment Methods
Check the payment methods provided as well as the URL of pages on them. You don’t want to input your personal information on fake sites using real logos.
Options like Paypal or credit card payment methods as well as security features in your financial app can provide that additional protection and payment verification for your online purchases.
Check Reviews
Search for real reviews or commonly asked questions about the brand or product. Sites like Google, the Better Business Bureau, or Trustpilot can also provide additional reviews from other buyers too.
Monitor Your Accounts
Check your accounts during the shopping season and when making purchases, ensuring transactions are made by you.
If you think you’ve been victim to a phishing or online scam, report it, contact your financial institution, and change your passwords right away.
More shopping is done online with the convenience of it right from your computer, tablet or phone. But it’s important to be alert of online shopping scams and websites this shopping season.
Stay safe and happy shopping!
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