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According to Shop.org, online holiday sales in November and December are expected to grow between 13-15 percent over last holiday season to as much as $82 billion. Cost conscious, savvy consumers are utilizing online and mobile shopping to research and purchase holiday gifts for family and friends. While convenient, it is important to remember to shop safe when shopping online. Consider these tips when shopping online this holiday season.
1. Stick to sites that you know and trust.
While the internet is an incredible resource for comparison shopping, the safest way to shop online is with retailers that you know and trust. While some sites that offer good deals are legitimate, others are scams. If you choose to shop with an online retailer that you do not know well, make sure their contact information is valid, the site is secure, and you understand the purchase, shipping, and return policies.
2. When shopping online, pay with a credit card.
Paying with a credit card is the safest choice when shopping online. The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) protects consumers whose credit cards have been used without their authorization by limiting the amount they are responsible to pay to only $50. Check your credit card statements carefully, especially after making an online purchase. If you notice a discrepancy and believe that your card was used without your consent, remember that the FCBA gives you the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment from the creditor while an investigation of the unauthorized charges is taking place.
3. Beware of Phishing.
A phishing scam is a spoofed email that appears to be from a trusted source that attempts to obtain personal information such as Social Security numbers, credit card information, usernames, and passwords. Some phishing emails are easy to spot because they are laced with misspellings, sent from a weird email address, or filled with outlandish requests. The phishing emails that are harder to spot appear to be sent from online retailers, banks, or social networking sites that you already have a relationship with. Remember to check your email carefully for signs of a phishing scam. Links to odd URLs, slightly “off” company logos or email templates, use of scare tactics or requests that create a sense of urgency in you to share information that should not be disclosed via email (like financial information) are signs that the email is not to be trusted.
4. Always type in the trusted website’s URL.
While the padlock and “s” (standing for ‘secure’) added to “http” are generally signs that a site is secure, they are not absolute indicators. Scam websites have been certified to use the “https” before and hackers are getting better at making sites look more legitimate by adding the closed padlock. Before purchasing anything on a website, it is a smart idea to open a new browser window and directly type in the trusted website’s URL instead of clicking on a link or ad to get there.
5. Avoid shopping from free, public Wi-Fi hotspots or Internet cafés.
Sending sensitive information over public wireless networks can put you at risk for identity theft or credit card fraud by exposing your information to hackers. It’s best to do your shopping from a secure location.
6. Create secure password.
Complex passwords that utilize a combination of letters, numbers, symbols, and upper and lower case are the hardest to crack.
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