Every year, the number of people shopping online and the money spent through online shopping grows significantly.  And why not?  The convenience alone of being able to shop from the comfort and privacy of your home is reason enough for many of us to shop online.  But how safe is it? According to the FTC the number one reported fraud is online shopping scams.  However, following some basic precautions can go a long way in protecting you from being scammed when shopping online

TIPS
Here is a list of some online shopping tips:

1. Make sure that the computer, laptop, tablet or phone you use is equipped with the anti-virus and anti-malware software and that you have updated the software with the latest security patches.

2.  As with shopping at brick and mortar stores, don’t use a debit card for online purchases, as well.  In the event of a data breach, the consumer protection laws in regard to fraudulent use of your debit card are not as protective as those that apply when your credit card is fraudulently used.

3.  Don’t supply your credit card number unless the address of the website is preceded by the letters “https.”  That additional letter “s” indicates that the transmission of your data is encrypted and secure.

4.  Don’t leave your credit card number on record with the online retailers you use for the sake of convenience.  Doing so only makes you more likely to become a victim of identity theft if the company suffers a data breach (and many of them will).

5.  Don’t click on coupons or ads that you may receive by way of an email or text message regardless of how good they appear.  They may be loaded with malware that will be downloaded on to your computer, tablet or phone if you click on the link.  That malware can steal all of your personal information and lead to your becoming a victim of identity theft.  Any legitimate coupon you might receive through an email or a text message will also be available on the website of the company where you want to shop.

6.  Limit your online shopping to companies that you know and trust.  Merely because a company comes up high on a Google search does not mean that the company is legitimate.  Any company offering a price that appears too good to be true, should be particularly suspect.  In tomorrow’s Scam of the day I will tell you how to confirm if a retail website is legitimate or a counterfeit website.

7.  Use distinct and complex passwords for each online company with which you shop and use dual factor authentication whenever possible.

If you are not a subscriber to Scamicide.com and would like to receive daily emails with the Scam of the day, all you need to do is to go to the bottom of the initial page of http://www.scamicide.com and type in your email address on the tab that states “Sign up for this blog.”