‘Tis the Season to be Jolly…online
It’s holiday season again! A joyous time for family and friends to be joyful and merry. This is the season when we become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crimes. We are often in a rush buying gifts, decorating our homes, travelling or visiting friends and relatives. Which makes the whole season stressful if you are not careful. Whether you are shopping in malls or online, online safety should always be a priority.
During this season, there is a big increase in the number of people shopping at malls. Establishments extend store hours to serve people who shop after work hours. Parking lots empty out in record time, taxi lines becomes unbearable. This is the same reason why many people opt to shop online. To lessen the stress and pressure of being able to complete the Christmas check list. Online shopping is also a great way to compare prices and find bargains.
Here are tips to remember when shopping online:
- Research on the retailer to make sure they are legitimate. There are thousands of shopping sites on the web today. With a bit of research, you will be able to spot the fraudulent ones. Check for negative feedbacks and make sure that the seller is reliable.
- What is the return policy? If they do not seem to have one, you should be suspicious. This will help if the item is not delivered or arrives defective. There is also a large online market that sells counterfeit goods. These can be hard to spot so a little more research can be helpful.
- While shopping online, make sure the internet connection you are using is secure. Do not use public Wifi in public places, such as coffee shops, airport terminals and shopping centers. Public Wifi is often unsecure. Cyber criminals can access any information you send while connected to these networks. Remember that your ordinary mobile data is more secure than the public Wi-Fi.
- Keep yourself safe online. Make sure your software and anti-virus protection is up-to-date. Always choose a strong password for your online accounts, using a combination of lower case, upper case, numbers and special characters. This will help protect you and your devices from scammers and cyber criminals.
Don’t Panic
Holiday shopping can be a pleasant experience. Start shopping a couple of weeks before an event or party to avoid shopping in panic. Always remember to guard yourself from online scams during the busiest season of the year. For more about online and credit card safety, visit leapmanagedit.com today.
