If you’re planning on shopping online this Cyber Monday – or at any other time for that matter – here are our top five tips for doing so safely.
Shop with reputable retailers
Stick with retailers you know and trust. Bookmark the sites rather than visiting from emails, ads, and texts to avoid fraudsters and fake stores.
Shop secure sites only
If you’re sticking with reputable retailers, these sites should be secure. If you’re supporting smaller independent stores, watch for the lock icon in the top left of your browser when visiting each site. A secure site will begin with HTTPS, not HTTP.
Watch for common scams
Common scams include deals that seem too good to be true, as well as fake stores to collect credit card numbers and personal information.
Use strong passwords
1234 just does not cut it! If you create an account at checkout, make sure you use a strong password so that a hacker cannot get into your account and steal your information or make a purchase with your card. We recommend that you decline to save your info as an additional safeguard. Use a password manager tool to generate and save passwords.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi to shop
Did you know that public Wi-Fi can open the door to hackers? Public Wi-Fi connections are often unencrypted and unsecured. A scammer could ‘grab’ your name, address, credit card number, and other personal information. If you must hop on public Wi-Fi, use a virtual private network (VPN).
In addition to the above, don’t forget to check activity in your bank account so that you can catch fraudulent transactions. If you experience fraudulent activity, contact your local branch immediately, and we will help you.