As the leaves change and Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are starting to shop for holiday gatherings, gifts, and seasonal deals. Online shopping makes it easy to find what you need without leaving home, but it’s important to stay mindful of where and how you’re shopping.
With increased online shopping activity this time of year, scammers may take advantage of shoppers looking for deals. Before checking out, keep these five tips in mind to help protect your personal and financial information.
Before making a purchase, make sure you’re shopping on a legitimate website. Look for HTTPS at the beginning of the web address and a padlock symbol in your browser. Be cautious of unfamiliar retailers, websites with unusual web addresses, and deals that seem too good to be true. When in doubt, visit the retailer’s official website directly.
During the fall and holiday shopping season, you may receive plenty of order confirmations, shipping updates, and special offers. Scammers often create fake emails and text messages that look like they’re coming from familiar retailers or delivery companies. Avoid clicking suspicious links or opening unexpected attachments. Instead, visit the retailer’s website or delivery company’s official app to check your order.
When shopping online, consider using a credit card or a secure payment service rather than entering your debit card information directly on unfamiliar websites. Never share your card number, PIN, or security code in response to an unexpected email, text, or phone call. If a website or payment request makes you uncomfortable, it’s best to walk away.
Shopping while waiting at a coffee shop or traveling for Thanksgiving may be convenient, but public Wi-Fi networks aren’t always secure. Avoid entering payment details or personal information when connected to public networks. Whenever possible, wait until you’re on a secure home network or use your phone’s cellular connection.
One of the easiest ways to catch suspicious activity is to regularly review your account transactions. Check your debit and credit card activity throughout the season, and consider setting up transaction alerts if they’re available through your financial institution. If you notice a charge you don’t recognize, contact your card provider or financial institution right away.
Whether you’re preparing for Thanksgiving, shopping for loved ones, or taking advantage of seasonal deals, a little extra caution can go a long way. Taking a few simple steps can help keep your personal information protected and your finances secure.
From all of us at Downeast Credit Union & Insurance, we wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving season!
For our members’ convenience, links are available in this website to allow quick access to other sites that may be of interest. Clicking on a third party link will take you out of Downeast Credit Union’s website to an alternative website not operated by DECU. The Credit Union is not responsible for the content of the third party website and does not represent either the third party website or the member if you enter into a transaction. Privacy and security policies of the website to which you are linking may differ from those practiced by DECU.
