The holiday countdown is on, and with COVID-19 the number of shoppers making online purchases during this holiday season will be record high. Unfortunately, it’s also the season for online scammers to make a killing at your expense.
Online purchase scams are the riskiest form of consumer fraud according to a report published by the Better Business Bureau. They can lead to exposing your identity and possibly draining your wallet.
A recent Experian survey found that 43% of victims said their identity theft occurred while holiday shopping online. While the thought of getting ripped off, during the holiday season no less, is a way to dampen your spirit, there are ways you can protect yourself while holiday shopping online.
Shopping starts to heat up in November and December, and a lot of those transactions occur on laptops, tablets, and mobile devices which opens many up to possible scams. Below are some facts about whats happened in past holiday seasons.
- 8% of consumers surveyed in 2018 said they were victims of identity theft during the holiday season.
- 43% of online shoppers surveyed said their identity theft occurred during holiday shopping online.
- 56% of holiday shoppers plan to make purchases online in 2019.
- $1,007: average amount that American consumers plan to spend on holiday shopping in 2019.
- Up to $149 billion: online holiday shopping sales for 2019 (projected), from November to January.
- 84% of holiday shoppers plan to use their smartphones to research products and look for coupons before buying in-store.
- 18%: The amount online sales are projected to grow in 2019 compared with 2018.
The holidays should be a joyous period as you spend time celebrating, not stressing as you untangle in a case of identity theft or financial fraud. Stay ahead of online scammers and identity thieves by using these tips to help secure your personal information while shopping online
Most of these purchases are made on tablets, laptops, computers and mobile devices, therefore it’s important to make sure all these devices have cyber security protection. If you have any questions or needs about protecting your devices call Acme Business at (716) 372-1325, or fill out an inquiry at www.acmebusiness.com. We at Acme Business stay ahead of the cyber criminals and enhance our cyber protection with Artificial intelligence, we would like to keep everyone safe this holiday season.
Below are more tips on how to keep your shopping as safe as possible.
- Ship to a secure location
- Only use official retailer apps to shop
- Don’t save your credit card information on your accounts
- Consider using Apple Pay or Google Pay for a second layer of protection
- Don’t buy from unfamiliar retailers without confirming it’s legit
- Don’t always jump at the lowest price
- Never make purchases on public Wi-Fi
- Try shopping with the extra security of a VPN.
- Use strong passwords and a password manager
- Check security policies on your selected retailers
- Don’t get tripped up in holiday shopping scam emails
- No retailers ask for your Social Security number, so don’t give it out
- Buy with credit cards
- Use prepaid debit cards
- After purchasing gifts, keep an eye on all your accounts and bank statement
During this holiday season follow the tips above to avoid putting yourself at risk. Call Acme Business with any cyber security questions.
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