Online Shopping Safety Tips
Holiday Shoppers Beware
The Holidays are approaching and it’s time to go shopping for those special gifts. Last year, consumers spent a holiday season record $32.6 billion online in 2010.* With so much personal financial information out there, instances of identity theft are on the rise.
Anyone who shops online is vulnerable to having their identity compromised. The proper precautions combined with identity theft protection are your strongest safeguards in protecting your credit and preventing the financial ruin that can be caused when an identity is stolen.
To help protect your identity when you’re shopping online this holiday season, Protection 1 offers the following safety tips:
Shop Trusted Names
Stick with sites like Amazon.com, Target.com or other familiar retailers. Beware of misspellings or domain names using “.net” instead of “.com” as that is one of the most common ways scammers trick consumers.Look for the Lock
A secure website starts with “https://” instead of “http://.” Secure sites will also have a small lock icon in the lower-right corner of the screen. Never give anyone your credit card through email. PayPal, however, is still a good, safe way to make a payment.Don't Share Too Much
No store needs your social security number or your birthday. In the hands of the wrong person, combined with your credit card number, serious damage can be done. Always give up the least amount of personal information possible.Check Billing Statements
Check statements for credit and debit cards as well as checking accounts regularly. If you see any charges you don’t recognize, address the matter immediately. Don't pay credit card bills until you know all your charges are accurate. You have 30 days to notify the bank or card issuer of problems. After that, you might be liable for the charges.Use Stronger Passwords
With so many online accounts—banking, credit cards, email—it’s common practice to recycle simple passwords that can be easily recalled. Use uncrack-able passwords, especially when banking and shopping. Your password is weak if:- It uses numbers or letters in the order they appear on the keyboard (“1234” or “qwerty”)
- It’s the name of your kids, pet, favorite team, or city of birth
- It's your birthday, anniversary, date of graduation, or car license plate number
- It’s “letmein,” or, especially, “password.”
Think Mobile
The National Retail Federation predicts that 25 percent of adults will do online browsing with their smartphones to find gifts. Buck this trend and download store-specific apps like those for Amazon.com and make your purchase without going to their website.Stay at Home
Do all online shopping at home so you know you’re using a trusted, secure network.Enroll in an Identity Theft Protection Service
Having a service provider you trust is important. Advanced technology and helpful customer service are “musts” for identifying and remedying any fraud issues. Protection 1 is now offering identity theft protection in every new HomeCore SolutionSM home security package.By following these simple tips and preparing for the worst, you can help to ensure your family—and your property—remain safe year-round. To find out how you can get free LifeLock Identity theft protection, visit www.Protection1.com or call us at 877.PRO1-911 today.
