Holiday Cyber Smarts - Tips to Shop Safely Online

The holiday season is the favorite time of the year for cyber criminals because there is an increase of people online ready to spend money. This year more than any other, shoppers will skip the mall crowds and simply do their holiday shopping online. Young adults are increasingly turning to TikTok, Instagram and other social media sites to shop for their holiday gifts. The best way to counter scams is through awareness.

According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (IC3) 2022 report, “IC3 received a total of 800,944 reported complaints, with losses exceeding $10.3 billion. Interestingly, while the total number of complaints decreased by 5%, dollar losses increased significantly by 49%.” Phishing schemes were the number one crime type with 300,497 complaints and, for the first time, investment schemes reported the highest financial loss to victims. (FBI, March, 2023), Internet Crime Complaint Center Releases 2022 Statistics — FBI.

Before you start shopping online here are some things you can do to avoid becoming a victim.

1. Use Strong Passwords

Look at your accounts and ask, do you have strong passwords? A strong, complex password should be at a minimum at least 8 characters of upper and lower case, and a symbol.

1. Beware of Gift Card Scams

Scammers love gift cards, too. If you’re told to pay for an item with a gift card, you’re about to be scammed, according to the Federal Trade Commission. This is a favorite payment method for scammers because it’s like paying in cash. It’s nearly impossible to get your money back.

For example, a scammer may pose as a seller on an online marketplace and ask you to buy a gift card and send them the code to pay for the item. Once they have the code, they can use the gift card and disappear.

3. Pay with Credit Card, not Debit Card

Pay with a credit card, not a debit card. You may be thinking you can avoid getting into debt by paying with your debit card. While that’s true, a credit card purchase offers more consumer protection than a debit card. For big-ticket items use credit.

If your credit card information is stolen or used fraudulently, you can dispute the charges and limit your liability. If your debit card information is compromised, the money is taken directly from your bank account and it may take longer to recover it.

4. Turn on Multi Factor Authentication

Turn on multifactor authentication: If an account or service offers multifactor authentication (MFA), turn it on. If someone else tries to log into your account, you will be able to thwart the attempt when you are notified with a text, email, or other chosen method. MFA can block over 99 percent of password attacks according to Microsoft.

5. Avoid Phishing Emails

Be suspicious of emails requesting personal information. Attackers may attempt to gather information by sending emails requesting that you confirm purchase or account information. Legitimate businesses will not solicit this type of information through email. Watch out for holiday scams!

6. Don’t click on links or download attachments in emails unless you trust the sender

Links and attachments in emails can contain malware, viruses, or spyware that can harm your computer or steal your information. Don’t click on links or download attachments in emails unless you know and trust the sender, and you are expecting the message.

7. Never share your financial information or password in

Emails

Never reply to unsolicited emails that ask for your financial information or password, even if they look official or urgent. If you receive such an email, delete it.

8. Use encryption when making online purchases.

When making purchases use sites that use secure sockets layer (SSL) to encrypt information. Indications that your information will be encrypted include a URL that begins with “https:” instead of “http:” and a padlock icon.

9. Shop only from trusted websites

Not all websites are safe or reliable. Some websites may sell counterfeit or defective products, charge hidden fees, or fail to deliver your order. Shop only from trusted websites that have a good reputation and customer service.

Avoid websites that have misspelled words, grammatical errors, or have offers that are too good to be true.

10. Don’t Shop on Public Wi-Fi

It might sound nice to sit at your favorite coffee shop and shop online, but it opens doors to hackers. Coffee shops, fast food places, etc., do not use encryption, and therefore, hackers can intercept your session and steal your information. That means all your information is passed in clear text, including passwords, and financial information.

What to do if you think you received a phishing email, or you have become a victim:

• If you receive a suspicious email that you think may be a phishing scam, you can report it at https://www.cisa.gov/ report.

• If you believe your personal or financial information has been stolen, report it right away to your local police and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). There’s information on the FTC website, IdentityTheft.gov. Also contact the credit bureaus, IdentityTheft.gov - Credit Bureau Contact Information

• For more information on Identity Theft prevention tips, contact FTC, Identity Theft | Consumer Advice (ftc.gov)

Remember to report fraud right away to your bank so that your credit card company can investigate quickly. Follow these Cyber smart tips for 2023 and beyond, and your holiday season should be free from scammers.

Happy Holidays and Safe Shopping!

Dr. Cheryl Cooper, a US Naval Veteran, holds a Doctorate in Computer Science and Information Assurance. She is a Cybersecurity Thought Leader and has earned several security certifications in CISSP, CISSA, and CDPSE. She has 20 years plus of Cybersecurity and Technology experience, and 12+ years teaching higher education as an adjunct professor. As speaker and panelist, she uses her platform to advocate and create equal opportunities for women and minorities in technology careers. An esteemed and well respected professional and mentor, Dr. Cooper also adds author to her resume. Her memoir, Hood to Hooded, was released in February 2023. To learn more about Dr. Cooper, please visit https://drcherylcooper.com/