ICYMI: The Holiday Shopping Protection Guide
Still shopping for last minute gifts? Make sure you haven’t missed our holiday shopping identity protection tips!
The stores are getting crowded as the holidays close in. You’ve got a to-do list a mile long. You’re probably putting your credit cards to some serious work. It’s the perfect time for fraudulent activity to go unnoticed. So wherever you do your shopping this season, be extra cautious of your transactions.
Here’s what you missed from Legal Shred’s holiday shopping protection guide.
Scams, payments, and more.
Despite the higher than normal risk of identity fraud happening during the holiday shopping season, there are safeguards consumers can put into place to try and limit their potential risk and damage, should fraud occur. Know what to look for, how to pay for your transactions safely, and how to spot a scam before it happens to you.
Cyber Monday may be over, but these tips are good year long.
Online shopping has certainly alleviated the crowds, the chaos, and the bustle of in-person shopping, but as with anything on the Internet, taking the proper steps to protect yourself online while exchanging sensitive information is something shoppers need to take seriously to prevent online identity theft. Our Cyber Monday feature has some tips that are not exclusive to one shopping day, but rather every time you conduct a transaction online. Do you know if the machine you’re shopping from is secure? Are you using a secure connection? Are you shopping with trusted vendors? Find out what you should be looking out for and how to keep yourself protected.
Some extra advice as you wrap up this holiday shopping season (no pun intended).
Don’t click on unexpected emails or links to “deals” that seem too good to be true. During the holiday season, a phishing attempt may come in the form of an email advertising a great deal, but the links within the email will direct you to a bogus website that was built to capture victim’s personal information. Beware of identity theft. You may not know it right away if a criminal has gotten a hold of your financial information. You can be proactive by closely monitoring all of your financial accounts, and signing up for text or email alerts if the institution offers them. Always use strong passwords. It is best to make it long and complex using a mixture of numbers, letters, and special characters.
Your personal information is one of the most valuable, if not the most valuable asset you own. Keep it protected this season and all through the rest of the year.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Legal Shred!
You Might Also Like:
- Holiday Shopping Identity Protection Tips
- Holiday Shopping Security Guide
- The Cyber Monday Shopping Survival Guide (and How to Protect Yourself)
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