Be careful when shopping online this Holiday season, or any day for that matter. These online shopping tips could save you a lot of hassle.
- Do business with reputable vendors – Some websites appear legit…but may trick you. If you’re unsure, Google the website to see if it’s real.
- Make sure your information is being encrypted – When buying online make sure you see the little padlock icon on the webpage. If the padlock is closed, the information is encrypted. Some phony sites may trick you by adding a fake padlock, so check the address bar of your browser for the tiny padlock there as well.
- Be wary of emails requesting information – Holiday scammers may try to gather information by sending you a request for info email, this is a scam. Don’t give them any personal/account/purchase data. If you receive an email from a business, instead of clicking on the provided link, log-on to the authentic website yourself.
- Use a credit card – There are laws to limit your liability for fraudulent credit card charges. You may not have the same level of protection for your debit cards. Always use a credit NOT debit card when using an online payment system.
