Online Shopping Safety Tips for the Holidays

More people are abandoning in-store buying for online shopping at home in their pajamas. Online shopping sales account for 40% of holiday purchases, according to consumer credit reporting company Experian.

But the convenience of buying gifts digitally comes with an increased risk of exposing personal information.

Online scams and phishing attempts spike during busy shopping times, like the holidays. As cybercriminals grow more sophisticated, consumers need to be vigilant about online shopping safety.

One way AAA members can safeguard themselves from cybercriminals is by signing up for identify theft protection through the ProtectMyID program, operated by Experian. The basic membership is free, and services include credit monitoring and fraud resolution support. Additional protections are available through higher level, paid memberships that include Social Security number monitoring, real-time identity alerts and child identity monitoring.

More Online Shopping Safety Tips From Experian

Browse and buy securely this holiday season. Make sure all the shoppers in your home know these basic cybersafety measures.

Always make online purchases on secure Wi-Fi networks. Public networks offered in places like coffee shops or the airport are more susceptible to identity-theft attacks. If you are out and about and don’t have access to a private Wi-Fi network, try using a virtual private network (VPN) when shopping.
Use a credit rather than a debit card when shopping online. It’s safer because it’s not linked directly to your bank account. Also, do not save your credit card number on a website. It might seem like a chore to manually enter your details with every purchase, but it’s an added layer of data protection if your device gets lost or stolen.
Criminals often create fake websites to attract shoppers. Stick to familiar retailers when you’re shopping online, and check that websites are secure. To identify a secure site, look for the S in “https” in your URL box, which shows that information like credit card details is encrypted.
Do not click on links in emails from senders you don’t recognize. Mark any suspicious emails as spam and promptly delete them.
Keep an eye out for misspellings in messages, which are often a sign of fake promotions.
If you are unsure of an exclusive email offer or a price that seems too good to be true, call or go to the retailer’s official (https) website directly from your browser to check.
Never provide financial information or sensitive identity information, such as a Social Security number or residential address, in exchange for prizes.

With just a few precautions, you can shop online safely and be ready when the avalanche of packages hits your doorstep.

Are you protected from porch pirates? Find out.

When do you start your holiday shopping? Tell us in the comments.

Ellen R. Delisio

Ellen is a content producer for AAA Northeast, covering automotive, finance, public affairs and electric vehicle news. She is a former newspaper reporter with experience writing for print and online publications about everything from higher education to sustainability. She recently returned to her native Long Island after living in Connecticut for 20-plus years, and has never met a beach she didn’t like.