How to Avoid Holiday Scams

When shopping online this holiday season, and every other time of the year, be on the lookout for scams.

Fraudsters are using more sophisticated tricks to scam you such as sending requests from fake charities, various online shopping scams and fraudulent communications about shipping problems on your purchase orders.

Protect your money and your personal information all year round with these tips to stay scam-free.

Practice good cybersecurity hygiene

• Don’t click any suspicious links or attachments in emails, on websites, or on social media
• Don’t disclose personal information like your name, password, and bank account number

Know who you’re buying from

• Check each website’s URL to make sure it’s legitimate and secure. The site you’re buying from should have -https -in the web address - if it doesn’t, don’t enter your information on that site
• If you’re purchasing from a company for the first time, do your research and check the reviews
• If you’re using an online marketplace or auction website, verify the legitimacy of the seller and check their feedback rating

Be careful how you pay

• Use a credit card when shopping online and check your statement regularly. If you see a suspicious transaction contact your credit card company to dispute the charge 

Monitor the shipping process

• Always get tracking numbers for items you buy online, so you can make sure they have been shipped and can follow the delivery process