How to protect yourself against Identity Theft while Holiday Shopping
Planning on holiday shopping online? We feel you. Going to brick and mortar stores don’t appeal to a lot of Long Islander shoppers. If you’re doing your shopping online, make sure you’re protecting yourself against identity theft while holiday shopping.
How to protect yourself against Identity Theft while Holiday Shopping
Not sure how to help protect yourself against holiday shopping identity theft? Here’s are 5 tips to help you during your online shopping adventures.
Use a secure network
Don’t shop online on public WiFi. If you have to do it on public WiFi, like if you’re at a hotel and need to make a purchase, invest in a VPN.
VPNs are Virtual Public Networks, and help direct online activity through a private, and secure, network. There’s plenty of options out there, so make sure you do your research and use one that’s well-known and trusted.
Shop at LEGITIMATE websites
Now’s not the time to start buying from websites that aren’t using https URLs, or look shady even if they are on secure URLs. Stick to websites PROVEN to be legit.
Protect Yourself
Sign up for alerts on your payment accounts. Most credit cards have the option to receive a text, or email, or phone call…. Or all three… if they suspect fraud on your account. There’s even ways to set alerts on dollar amount thresholds on your accounts. If a charge goes over the set amount, you’ll be notified within minutes.
Sign up for any and all alerts so you can stay on top of identity theft.
CHECK your statements
Review your credit card statements. Make sure every purchase listed is legit. If you have the option to check your credit report, do it. Better to be vigilant than to assume your credit card company is catching everything that might be shady!
Even with alerts, DOUBLE CHECK all of your charges and match them to your receipts, and invoices. Plenty of identity thieves see where you buy things, and slip in charges that seem legitimate to the credit card company. Look at everything, line-by-line.
Stop OVERSHARING Information
Social Media is great, but we often overshare information. If you’re sharing special dates, or pets names, and those are things you use for your passwords…. You’re opening yourself up to theft. Keep as much personal information off of the internet as possible.
Holiday shopping shouldn’t stress you out, or put you in danger. Keep the above mentioned tips in mind when shopping online, and Happy Holidays from Long Island’s Tango, Tango & Tango staff!