Online Shopping Safety – The Palm Beaches

If You're On The Prowl For Some Good Holiday Cyber Deals, It's Likely That Hackers Will Also Be Hunting For Your Credit Card Information!

As consumers begin their holiday shopping, virtually everyone has the same Christmas wish: Please, don't let anyone steal my identity. A recent survey from TransUnion found that 96% of Americans say they’re worried about identity theft this holiday season, and almost two-thirds are more worried this year than they were last year.

The National Retail Federation forecasts that most consumers will turn to online shopping this holiday season, spending an average $967, marking a 3.4 percent increase from last year.

But in 2016, nearly 16,000 victims of credit card fraud in the U.S. collectively lost more than $48 million, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Before you start your online shopping spree, here are some tips to help you protect yourself:

• Use two-factor authentication
• Ensure you are shopping on a secure site. The address line in the URL should begin with https. That "s" is key - it means the information is being sent over a "secure" line.
• Do not shop on public WiFi networks. Only enter sensitive financial information on secured WiFi networks with passwords.
• Do Not Reuse Passwords and be sure to change your account passwords for different online retailers often throughout the holiday season.
• Ensure your software is up-to-date. To protect yourself from identity theft, keep your computer safe from malicious adware, which means updating Windows and Mac updates as they become available.
• Delete Online Clutter
• Do not click on links in retailer emails. Hackers like to prey on deal-hunters by sending "phishing" emails that look like they're from brands you know and trust, says Joe Siegrist, CEO of LastPass. Then when you click on the link, the hackers redirect you to a fraudulent site and steal your information. Instead of clicking on the links provided, go to the website yourself.
• Sign Up for Transactions Monitoring Alerts and keep a close eye on your credit card statements.
• Don't use a debit card for online shopping.

Cyber Crime Is At Its Highest Throughout The Holiday Shopping Season. Complete The Form Above To Find Out How We Help Secure Your Business AND Your Personal Identities During An Identity Theft Blizzard!