Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

Identity Theft Protection During The Holidays

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

Protect Yourself From Holiday Identity Theft

Holiday shopping can be fun, but it can also be dangerous. As you run around trying to find the perfect gifts for everyone, protect your information so that you do not fall victim to identity theft. Keep these shopping safety tips in mind to protect your identity this holiday season.

  • Keep your computer safe. You should regularly update the security software on your computer to make sure your computer is safe. You should also use passwords without any personal information to make it harder for someone to guess.
  • Avoid contests. All those online contests are often sources of computer viruses or scams to collect your personal information. Avoid them if at all possible to make your browsing safer. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Email scams. Even if you recognize the company emailing you, if they are asking for personal information over email, it is likely a scam.
  • Online shopping. If you are not familiar with the site you are shopping on, research the company to get some information and read their privacy policy. Consider paying with a credit card instead of a debit card, and make sure the page is secure by looking for the lock image by the URL.
  • Shred old documents. Dispose of any documents that you no longer need that may contain sensitive information by shredding them so that identity thieves cannot get a hold of your information through your trash.
  • Use wireless connections safely. If you are shopping online, try not to use wireless networks that do not require a security key to avoid possible hackers on the network.

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