Safety Precautions for Online Shopping
Protect yourself as you shop online.
If you are like many other Americans and plan to do some of your holiday shopping online, then it’s important that you stay safe. Unfortunately, there are many cyber criminals that target the credit card information of unsuspecting holiday shoppers. This holiday season, make sure you are taking the proper security precautions to protect yourself as you shop online.
- Be Cautious as You Shop
Now is not the time to try out a new online vendor or buy from a company you’ve never heard of before. Instead, make sure that you stick to retailers whose websites you have used in the past. Additionally, even if you’ve purchased from the company before, make sure you examine the website carefully before you check out. Some savvy criminals create fake websites for real companies and use this trap to steal the credit card information of unsuspecting shoppers.
- Be Wary of Giving Out Info
If a website prompts you to enter personal information, then this should raise a red flag. Any website that asks you for your social security number, date of birth, or other type of personal information unrelated to your purchase is probably not legitimate. The only information an online retailer should require is your billing, shipping, and payment information and, on occasion, your email address and phone number.
- Be Proactive
Finally, you can stay safe while shopping online by taking proactive measures. For instance, instead of shopping with your personal credit card, consider using a pre-paid credit card or gift card. This will ensure that a criminal cannot use your credit card even if they gain access to your account. Additionally, you can also protect yourself by installing good anti-virus software on your computer. This will help protect your computer and any personal information you keep on it from falling into the hands of criminals.
Make sure you take these precautions to protect yourself as you shop online this holiday season. Want another way to stay safe over the holidays? Then make sure you have the proper insurance to address your needs. To find the right policies for you, contact the experts at Remland Insurance in Orange, California. Our dedicated team is ready to assist you with all your insurance needs.
