The holiday season is here, and so online shopping season is upon us.  Many of us will soon be caught up in the Black Friday frenzy shopping, immediately followed by non-stop holiday shopping. We’ll be merrily capitalizing on those once-a-year great deals, trying to make our holiday shopping dollars go as far as possible.

But everything may not be as it seems.  There are those among us who would take advantage of the unwary or the unprepared.  You can avoid becoming a victim of the fraudsters and thieves by taking a few simple steps to protect yourself.

The sheer volume of holiday shopping that will occur online this year makes cybersecurity more important than ever.  Using caution, and taking protective measures when shopping from a smartphone or computer, is essential.

1. Install a robust Anti-Virus/Malware software

Most Anti-Virus/Malware products maintain a blacklist of sites that are known scams sites and prevent or warn you that the site you are about to go is malicious.  They also will detect and warn you that, if you proceed, malicious software may be installed on your computer.

2.  Only shop with reputable merchants

Stay on the beaten path and only shop with online merchants you know.  You may find incredible deals on sites you have never heard of, but most likely if it seems too good to be true it likely is.  Scammers have become very good at imitating legitimate websites. Sometimes they’re almost indistinguishable from the real thing.  First, check the URL in the upper left of your browser. If you’re trying to shop with Amazon or eBay, the domain name should be “amazon.com” or “ebay.com”  if the expected domain isn’t shown close your browser. Scammers have gotten much better at making their URLs look real. For example, https://amazon.com.addtocart.com is not https://amazon.com and the former may be a spoofing site.

3.  Make sure the connection is secure

Before entering your credit card and other personal information, check to see if the URL begins with “https:”  The ‘s’ in “https:” indicates it’s a secure connection. If you don’t see the “https:”, then your information will be transmitted in the clear for all to see.  Never shop on online sites that do not offer a secure connection.

4. Do your research on the merchant

Many smaller merchants offer unique products not available elsewhere on Facebook or Instagram. Before you purchase from them, use your favorite search engine to search for the merchant using the terms complaints or reviews.

5. Monitor purchases on your credit cards

Most banks and financial institutions offer an SMS texting or email alerting service that will notify you of each transaction made with your card.  If you don’t recognize a purchase immediately, then contact your financial institution and report it.

scrutinize credit applications as closely as they should. That’s where identity theft /fraud protection comes in.  Identity theft/identity fraud protection monitors and alerts you of attempts to access your credit, thus allowing you to stop fraudulent accounts from being opened in your name.

6. Be careful about what free apps you download

Many of these “Free” apps are often little more than trojan horses.  They promise huge discounts on the products you want. All you have to do is download their app to your smartphone, but you may end up getting a lot more than free coupons.  Many of these apps offer these discount coupons in exchange for access to your personal data or worse. Some may install adware or tracking software on your phone and attempt to capture your passwords and credit card numbers.

7.  Never, ever use a debit card online

Credit cards provide much better protection for the online consumer.  The federal Fair Credit Billing Act limits liability for unauthorized charges to $50 if the incident is reported within 60 days.  Whereas your liability rises to $500 for debit card transactions if you don’t catch it within two business days. After that, you run the risk of having the entire balance of your bank account drained.  Additionally, most credit cards have a zero-fraud liability policy. If your credit card is compromised and you report the fraud in a timely manner, then you’ll likely not be held responsible.

8. Get identity theft/fraud protection

In addition to monitoring the cards you already have, you’ll need to monitor and prevent fraudulent applications for credit in your name from identity thieves.   

During this time of year, retailers will be swamped with new account applications. Retailers want to make as many sales as possible and may not scrutinize credit applications as closely as they should. That’s where identity theft and fraud protection comes in.  Identity theft/identity fraud protection monitors and alerts you of attempts to access your credit, thus allowing you to stop fraudulent accounts from being opened in your name.