It seems that just couple of years ago, consumers were skeptical about shopping online, but today it’s become the norm.
It comes with some risks, however. The FBI Internet Crime Report shows that cybercriminals were responsible for $4.1 billion in losses in 2020, with Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes being the costliest.
With holiday shopping just around the corner, cybersecurity is – and should be – a top concern for consumers.
Here are 10 tips offered by the Northwest Credit Union Association, a trade association representing more than 175 not-for-profit, cooperative credit unions in Oregon, Idaho and Washington, to keep your data safe and your accounts secure:
— Beware of online deals that seem too good to be true. This is especially important on social media. Many times, scammers set up fake shopping sites in order to steal your personal information and your money.
— Be smart about site security. Check to ensure it has encryption that guards your information. Look at the URL, which should read HTTPS instead of only HTTP. The “S” at the end indicates the site has secure socket labels. You’ll also see a lock at the left of the URL, which is standard for all secure sites. The Google Chrome browser flags nonsecure sites, with the HTTPS designation, and sends a warning message to the user.
— Be wary of email scams offering amazing bargains. And be careful of delivery-issue claims, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the sender. Never open attachments or click links that are included in the email unless you can verify the sender is legitimate.
— Avoid shopping while connected to public Wi-Fi. It’s a sure way for hackers to spy on your online activity and gain access to personal information.
— Whenever possible, buy with a credit card, not a debit card. Most credit cards offer $0 liability for account fraud, while a debit card gives shady sellers direct access to your bank account.
— Guard sensitive personal information. No legitimate online retailer will ever ask for a Social Security number. If they do, it’s a major red flag.
— Pay close attention to transaction details, such as shipping notices and tracking information. If a retailer refuses to provide such order details as a shipping date or order status, you may not receive the merchandise. Report the charge to your credit card company to get your money back.
— Check your accounts regularly to ensure that all charges are purchases you actually made. If you don’t recognize a charge, notify your credit union or credit card company immediately.
— Choose strong and unique passwords for online accounts. Never use your or family members’ birthdates, addresses, or other personal information. Combine letters, numbers, and special characters to create complex passwords that are difficult to hack.
— Report suspicious activity or file a scam complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov/. You’ll be helping to keep yourself and fellow citizens safe against present and future scammers.