5 Online Shopping Safety Tips

So you’ve decided to opt out of the chaos that is Black Friday. What are the perks? Well, while shoppers are standing in lines a mile long, you will be seated comfortably in the privacy of your home, completing your gift list online. It’s a great alternative to the shopping mobs, but there are still some precautions you should take. Here are a few tips to consider when shopping online.

Keep your credit card safe. When you pay online, make sure you do not store any of your credit card information on any websites. During the holiday season, home burglary rates increase. If your house were broken into, your computer would be an easy target for credit card fraud. Cover your tracks.

Get the details. Check for expected delivery dates, shipping and handling fees, warranties, return policies, and other important information. Most of this information should be posted on the merchant’s website.

Packages shipped to your house. You don’t want packages to arrive with big brand labels that announce to the world that you’ve just purchased a new computer or flat screen television. Make sure the packaging is discreet, and try to be there when it arrives. The longer it sits on your front door step, the more tempting it will be to a thief.

Don’t leave a paper trail. It’s surprising how many people dumpster dive, in search of documents with important account numbers so that they can commit fraud in your name. As the holiday bills and statements come rolling in, make sure you shred all banking, billing and personal identification documents thoroughly before you throw them away. Or go paperless.

Shut down your computer. When you are done shopping, turn off your computer. A computer that runs while not in use is at a high risk for malware and fraud, putting your personal information at risk.

If you do decide the brave the Black Friday crowd, that’s a whole new ballgame. Make sure you brush up on safety tips for holiday shopping in the mall.

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