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Friday
March 29th, 2024

online shoppingWith many people turning to online shopping to find that perfect Christmas present, it is important to take some basic safety precautions to prevent your identity from being stolen. Courtesy photoELLY GRIMM • Leader & Times

 

The holiday shopping season has officially begun, which means many people will be making purchases both in person at retail stores as well as online through retail Web sites. 

With the shopping season starting, especially for those who will be purchasing gifts online, there are some safety precautions to keep in mind before clicking the Checkout button. 

“Online purchase scams, which can expose your identity and even drain your wallet, are the riskiest form of consumer fraud, according to a report published by the Better Business Bureau. And a recent Experian survey found 43 percent of victims said their identity theft occurred while holiday shopping online,” an article from LifeLock noted. “Shopping heats up in November and December, and a lot of those transactions occur on laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. Amid the increase in e-commerce, financial fraud climbs, too. 8 percent of consumers surveyed in 2018 said they were a victims of identity theft during the holiday season, and 84 percent of holiday shoppers plan to use their smartphones to research products and look for coupons before buying in-store.”

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To keep the holiday season happy, LifeLock noted there are a few things people can do to keep themselves safe while purchasing presents online. 

“The rise of online shopping has led to an increase of home deliveries — and with it, an increase in “porch pirates”, or thieves who steal packages from doorsteps. If no one’s home to accept a package, consider shipping to your office or another safe place. UPS, Amazon, and FedEx all now have shipping lockers available for secure deliveries,” the LifeLock article noted. “Also, mobile apps allow you shop for and purchase items while you’re on the go — making holiday shopping a breeze. But the danger arises if you unknowingly install an app laced with malicious software, or malware. Criminals use these apps to infiltrate smartphones and do any number of things, like direct users to fraudulent premium subscription services or automatically subscribing users to expensive content providers without the user’s consent. Protect yourself against malicious mobile apps by only downloading apps from reputable stores, such as Galaxy Apps, the App Store, Amazon App Store and Google Play. Some providers, such as Google Play, scan apps for malware prior to publishing them on their store.”

The Wi-Fi connection itself is also something to keep safe, according to an article from dashlane.com. 

“It’s really tempting to shop on-the-go during holiday season, especially if you’re traveling to see family or friends. But if you’re connected to free Wi-Fi like in airports, planes, trains, cafes, or hotels, the first thing you should do when you get online is connect to a VPN,” the dashlane.com article noted. “If you’re using at-home WiFi, or simply using your cellular data, you don’t need to worry about using a VPN. A VPN encrypts all the traffic coming in and out of your device, so no one can snoop on your internet activity and steal the information you input online, including logins and payment information. Also, don’t save sensitive info on sites or in your browser This is a general safety tip that is even more relevant this time of year. It’s common to save personal and payment information on shopping websites so you don’t need to fill it in the next time you buy something. However, these sites aren’t designed to provide the necessary security for your data – they’re designed for shopping. That’s why we routinely hear about hacks and breaches containing personal information from retailers. You can take advantage of the convenience of autofilling your information on different sites without sacrificing your security by using a password manager.”

LifeLock also advises to find other methods of payment. 

“Credit card fraud is a serious problem in the U.S., but using a digital wallet or app, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, or others can increase your transaction security.” LifeLock noted. “The digital wallet obscures your payment card information so the merchant sees a unique, one-time code that’s only good for that purchase. So if a store employee or a hacker tries to get their hands on the store’s payment information, they wouldn’t be able to see your credit card or bank details. Also, you’ll usually get the best liability protection online and offline when you use a credit card, and here’s why: If someone racks up unauthorized charges on your credit card, federal regulations say you won’t have to pay while the card company investigates. Most major credit cards offer $0 liability for fraudulent purchases. Keep in mind, your liability for unauthorized charges on your debit card is capped at $50, if you report it within two business days. But if someone uses your account and you don’t report the theft, after 60 days you may not be reimbursed at all.”

Both LifeLock and dashlane.com also advise to keep an eye on your credit after finishing online shopping. 

“Robust holiday shopping can add pages to your credit card statements,” LifeLock added. “Check your statements for fraudulent charges at least once a week or set up account alerts. When you receive a text or email about a charge, you can check the message and likely easily recall whether you recognize the charge and made the purchase.”

“Sometimes you may not even be aware that your personal information is compromised until it’s too late, and this time of year fraud is even more prevalent. If your information or identity is stolen, one of the first signs of improper use is unusual changes to your credit,” dashlane.com noted. “There are affordable ways to get alerted about credit changes, so you can take action fast in a worst-case scenario. If you follow some easy and precautions, you’ll be way ahead of the curve in terms of ensuring your accounts stay safe and your holiday is worry-free – a time for joy, family, and lots of gifts.”