The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and with it comes an increase in online shopping. While it’s convenient to be able to shop from the comfort of your own home, it’s important to be aware of the risks of online shopping and take steps to protect yourself.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss some top tips for staying safe online during the holidays. We’ll cover how to protect yourself from scams, how to choose a secure website, and what to do if you think you’ve been scammed. We’ll also provide recommendations for consumers and businesses.

So, whether you’re a seasoned online shopper or a newbie, read on for tips to help you stay safe and secure this holiday season.

How to protect yourself during the shopping season

24% of shoppers said they experienced fraud during the holiday season.

Don’t use public WiFi or unsecured websites to buy products. In large crowds, scammers can hijack your personal smartphone or data when you use a debit card that’s linked to your bank account.

Use a credit card to pay online, as most credit card companies offer protection against scams. If they see something suspicious, they may stop payment or contact you to confirm you were the buyer.

A list of the top scams of the season

Here are the top ways shoppers get scammed during the holiday season.

1. Text messages that either claim to send an invoice or claim a package can’t be delivered. Do not give out personal information in a text message from a number you don’t recognize.
2. Phishing emails that offer deep discounts or special sales. Clicking on the links in messages or in ads that tout seasonal deals could infect your computer with malware or take you to a fake shopping site.
3. Clicking on a Facebook, Instagram, or Google ad with beautiful items at extremely low prices. Often, these ads grab photos from other legitimate websites and just repost their images illegally. There is no merchandise. It’s just a scam.

Recommendations for consumers

If you plan to do any online shopping this season, remember our number-one tip: If the deal looks too good to be true, it likely is.

When every dollar counts, many shoppers love to snag a great deal. The problem is, bad actors prey on that exact line of thinking. Many deal-seeking shoppers have been swindled by a fake storefront, extremely low prices, and merchandise that simply doesn’t exist. An extra-long shipping timeframe may have you wondering when your package will be delivered. Unfortunately, it probably won’t arrive.

You should also know what a reasonable price is for the item you’re looking to buy. Check multiple reputable websites to verify. Look them up with the Better Business Bureau. Read online reviews from other customers. Hover over links online to see what the destination URL will be. If it’s not the name of a store or business you recognize, best to find that product somewhere else.

Recommendations for businesses

If you’re a business with increased sales during the holidays, scammers may take advantage of a very busy season.

Continuously check your financial accounts for any unauthorized activity. Good recordkeeping goes hand-in-hand with managing your cybersecurity.

Create long and unique passphrases for all accounts and use multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible.

Some users may still fall victim to identity theft or scams – even if they follow good security practices. For even more information on holiday shopping safety, The Center for Internet Security has several recommended resources with more tips.

If you follow these tips, you can help keep your personal information and financial assets safe during the holiday season.