Understanding the Risks and Safeguarding Your Personal Information While Online Shopping

The holiday season is upon us, and it’s the best time to update or brush up on your online security skills before shopping for gifts. By this, we mean knowing how to spot suspicious websites or even avoiding those offers that seem too good to be true (because sometimes they aren’t). It’s essential to always be on your guard when shopping.

Similarly, the Better Business Bureau recently warned consumers about a new type of ‘declined card scam.’ Does this sound familiar?
And so it goes: After you enter your credit or debit card number to pay for an online purchase, an error message pops up stating that your payment method has been declined, prompting you to try another card. You get confused and enter a different card number, but you get the same error message. What’s going on?

The problem comes when you call your bank to ask about this error, and they tell you that it has gone through or that you have been overcharged. And that’s how easy it is to become a victim of an online scam.

That’s why today, we want to offer you some basic tips to prevent this type of incident and other ways to stay safe when shopping online.

1. Shop Only At Known Locations

Commonly, search results can sometimes lead you astray or even infect your device with malware. Especially those that look like incredible promotions from sites you’ve never heard of before. It’s best to trust the big retailers, such as Target or Home Depot, who also run excellent promotions at this time of year and have online shops.

Be aware of sites with misspellings or that use a different top-level domain (.io instead of .com, for example).

2. Look For the SSL Encryption Padlock

If you’re shopping on a site and unsure if it’s legitimate, look in your browser’s address bar; there should be a padlock next to the URL. This icon indicates that the site has installed SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption and that data transfers are more secure than on a non-encrypted site.

Another way to tell if a site has SSL is to look for a URL starting with https://, which is common, even on non shopping sites. Google Chrome will warn you of any page without the additional S as ‘not secure’.

3. Research The Seller Beforehand

Do your homework first, and research the seller before you buy. The Better Business Bureau has an online directory and scam tracker. Yelp and Google are also packed with helpful reviews. And when there’s a suspicion of a scam, you’ll come across complaints like non-delivery or non-payment, which are the most common cybercrime complaints. However, online reviews can also be manipulated.

It’s best to make sure you have a specific address and a working phone number for the seller so that you can file a complaint if things go wrong.

4. Lying or Leaving Out Personal Information on Forms

There is information that you may not need to provide on purchase forms when dealing with retailers, such as your date of birth, middle name, or Social Security number, as well as any other personal information beyond the payment method you will use and your mailing address. So don’t feel bad about lying and leaving out information.

The more they know about you, the easier it will be to steal your identity. We also recommend this because major sites can suffer security breaches constantly, so keep your information private.

5. Don’t Use Your Debit Card

When shopping online, it’s best not to compromise your debit card. If scammers get this information, they can access your bank account directly. Instead, use your credit card or a mobile payment app.

Some banks offer temporary credit card numbers to make online purchases much safer.
Another thing is that the Fair Credit Billing Act will ensure that you are only responsible for up to $50 of credit card charges if you did not authorize the payment, in case you are scammed. That’s why most reputable card issuers will not hold you responsible for unauthorized charges. Like banks, they will also return any cash stolen due to identity theft. Of course, though, an investigation will be done first, which could take days or weeks before you get your money back, compared to the minutes it takes with a credit card.

Remember, regularly check your account statements, both credit cards, debit cards and checking accounts.

6. Pay With Your Phone as Much as Possible

Not only has it become simple and shared in modern times, but it has also become a much safer method after so many card clones and data thefts. That is why, in physical stores, this is much more advisable than using your credit card.
By using mobile payment applications such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, your device will recognize your already verified identity, so no one else can impersonate you and steal your data or money.

7. Beware of Gift Card Exchanges

Gift cards can also be an issue, depending on where they come from, so they’re not always welcome. Scammers auction off empty gift cards on sites like eBay.

Other than that, gift card exchanges are a great idea, but not everyone who uses these services can be trusted. You may get a card and find out it’s already been used. So, if you want to give one as a gift, it’s best to go directly to a physical store or buy an e-gift card that’s sent directly to the recipient.

8. Stay Hidden When Using a Public Wi-Fi 

If you have to purchase and run out of data or access a public hotspot, stick to known networks, even if they’re free, like Starbucks. Using a virtual private network (VPN) to be safe may be best.

9. Use Security Apps

Having security apps and software, such as a password manager, to create encrypted passwords and access keys will be brilliant. You can also save time filling out email address forms if you store your information in this password manager, which will fill in the data for you at the time of payment.

Additionally, protect your devices against malware with an up-to-date antivirus program. This secure software will also fight spam, eliminating phishing emails and preventing attacks from other websites.

You can also install an ad-blocking extension on your favorite browser. This will not only clean up your browsing experience by removing annoying or intrusive ads (such as banners or pop-ups) but also block trackers that monitor your browsing activity.

Finally, enable two-step or multi-factor authentication for all your online accounts. An authentication app makes this incredibly easy.

And remember, all your security apps should always be up to date. Otherwise, any new threats can reach your devices, as there are always new threats.

10. And if You Get Scammed, Get Even

Don’t feel too bad if you get scammed while shopping online; it happens often. Instead of getting down on yourself, make a fuss (online, of course) and complain to the seller. Which will start to affect their reputation, where we know reputation is everything.

You can also report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission, your state attorney general, or the FBI. Of course, this will work better if you’re shopping in the US rather than from foreign sites or international drop shippers.

So, if you’re in doubt that you’ll get scammed, try to keep it local—or at least national.

Call in the Professionals

The holiday season should be a time of joy, not stress over online scams. Staying vigilant and using the latest tools can help you shop with confidence. Fighting scams requires more than awareness—it’s about staying one step ahead with powerful AI tools. That’s where iLOCK360 offers top-of-the-line credit monitoring and identity theft protection.

Click here to learn more about how iLOCK360 can help keep you safe this season.
Shop smart, stay secure, and enjoy the holidays worry-free!

Click here to learn more.