Don't gift wrap your data.
The ultimate guide to safe online shopping
In the era of digital convenience, online shopping has become a staple of modern life. However, with the convenience comes the responsibility of safeguarding your personal and financial information. In this month's bog post, we explore the essential steps to ensure your online shopping experiences are secure and enjoyable.
Too good to be true
Online ads and tempting deals can be enticing, but they can also be traps. Beware of offers that seem too good to be true. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Stick to well-known, reputable websites and sellers. Hackers place advertisements all over, even on social media, and those links could lead you right into a data harvesting site.
Don’t know it? Don’t trust it!
When shopping online, stick to trusted sources and known retailers. Avoid visiting random or suspicious websites. Choose established e-commerce platforms and stores with a track record of reliability. This will save you from running into any issues with your purchase. Additionally, when you need to check on shipping and delivery updates, you can go back to the trusted site to review those and dismiss any phony alerts you may receive.
Secure your payments
When it is time to make a payment, consider using secure payment methods such as PayPal or Google Pay when dealing with third-party sites. Avoid providing your credit card information directly to websites that might not have a proven track record of security. Even many large, well-known retailers have been hacked, so sticking with the payment processors ensures a more secure shopping experience.
Only accepts gift cards? No way!
Be cautious when websites or vendors insist on payment through gift cards. Scammers often prefer this method as it's difficult to trace and recover funds. Legitimate sellers should accept conventional payment methods. If you are only given the option of using a gift card, stop the payment process and find a different website to shop from.
Online shopping can be a fantastic and efficient way to shop from the convenience of anywhere! However, it's essential to stay vigilant and follow these guidelines to protect your information. Your security and peace of mind are important in the digital age. Happy shopping!
Spam and smishing attacks
Messages like these are very common nowadays, and they are also very dangerous. Fake payment confirmations, counterfeit shipping notifications, and bogus delivery notifications are common tactics used by scammers. Always double-check the legitimacy of these messages.
E-commerce Fraud
Forbes estimates that online retailers will lose $48 billion dollars to e-commerce fraud in 2023. That is $48 billion dollars in stolen or fake credit card purchases, impacting millions of people. With the rise of online shopping, it is critical to take all necessary protection measures so you don’t become one of the millions whose money and data are stolen.
