This year the Black Friday deals have begun early, and the Cyber Monday deals are right around the corner. Due to the pandemic, more holiday shoppers will be online this season. Experts are predicting as much as a 33% increase in online sales over last year. Sales are expected to reach a record $189 billion. So, what does that mean? It means shopping online has never been easier or more convenient for consumers. Nor for the cybercriminal who will try to trick shoppers with fake deals and scams. Check out our tips to help you to shop securely and confidently.

Know Your Sites 

It is best to shop the websites you know and trust. You are less likely to be tricked into moving away to malicious pages/sites where your information can be stolen.

Remember “S” is for Secure Use 

Check the URL and if it is missing an “s” after the “http”, then the site is not secure, and you should shop elsewhere.

Use Authorized Shopping Apps from Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store 

Search for and download apps only from authorized app stores and NEVER click on links offering app downloads from unknown or suspicious sources.

Look for Websites and Apps that Have Additional Security Measures 

Most leading portals use a variety of extra security measures to help protect you. They include CAPTCHA challenges, which ask visitors to identify objects in images, or decipher short strings of text, or click on a checkbox to confirm that they are human.

Never Shop on a Public Wi-Fi

While it may be convenient to shop using a Public Wi-Fi, it is not safe. These are open, unsecure networks designed for convenience and hackers know that. They use these networks to access and steal information.

Practice Safe Password Habits 

Use a strong, unique password. We recommend using a long passphrase with a mix of capitalization, special characters, and numbers. Do not forget to use a password manager to keep track of all your passwords/passphrases.

Use Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) aka Two Factor Authentication 

For a secure log-in and an additional layer of protection, turn on the merchant’s site MFA.  You can usually find the MFA setting under the sites Security Settings or your Account Settings. Once you have done that, set up an MFA app such as Google Authenticator to receive the MFA security code required every time you log into those sites.

Use a Virtual Card Number 

A virtual credit card number is a randomly generated card number associated with your actual credit card. They are also known as virtual credit cards or virtual cards. Talk to your bank about obtaining one. They allow you to shop online without giving vendors your actual card number. If you do not have a virtual card number, limit your risk, and use only one credit card to shop online. And NEVER shop with a debit card.

Dedicate a Unique Email Address for Shopping Only 

Minimize your exposure by using only one email address for all your shopping. If your email is hacked, it will be easier to manage your risk with just the one email.

Use a Dedicated Computer

Use one personal computer to do all your online shopping. If possible, do not use your work computer. Keep the computer up to date with the current version of antivirus and malware software and security patches. Always log out of shopping sites.

Think Before You Click 

Always question the ad that encourages you to click the link. To be safe, go directly to the company’s website to see if the offer is legitimate.

Beware of What You Give Away 

Sign on as a guest. Yes, it is tedious to reenter details of your credit card number, shipping, and billing addresses, however, it will help avoid the headache of having to deal with credit card theft. Never store your credit card information on a website. Do not sign on using your social media accounts, the less information you give out the safer you are.

Beware of the Deals that are too Good to be True  

Do your homework, research prices and offers. Your parents always told you if it seems too good to be true it is. They are right. Scammers use enticing deals and offers to trick you into giving personal information. One such ploy is to send you a “virtual gift”.  For you to accept it, you need to supply your personal information.

Keep Track of the Sites Your Shop 

Jot down the sites you shop from and keep your receipts. With that information, it will be easier to keep track of your purchases on your credit card statement.

Follow Your Credit Report 

Be sure to constantly check your accounts for any unauthorized activity. If you find any, report it immediately.

Happy and Safe Shopping!