5 ways to protect yourself from Cyber Monday scams
It’s the beginning of November, and we don’t know about you, but Cyber Monday offers are already flooding our inbox. With such a flurry of activity happening during the online event, scammers come out in full force to take advantage of the situation.
Don’t worry, though, there are ways to protect yourself against these scammers and still enjoy all of the great deals the day has to offer! Keep reading to find out the five ways your can protect yourself against Cyber Monday scams.
1. Don’t open attachments in emails
As Cyber Monday gets closer, you inbox will be flooded with emails from retailers touting their exclusive deals. If you get an email with an attachment inside, do not open the attachment! The email – either from a retailer you don’t recognize or spoofed from a retailer you trust – will claim that the attachment has the coupon code you need to access the deal.
Retailers will never hide their deals inside their attachments. If you get a Cyber Monday email with an attachment inside, delete it immediately and block the sender.
2. Only use a credit card when shopping online
This is a general best practice to use year-round. If a cyber criminal gets a hold of your debit card information, they can wipe out your checking account leaving you with little to no recourse for recouping your lost money. On the other hand, if your credit card information is stolen, you will be able to reverse the charges without the loss touching your account.
3. Update your passwords
Before your online shopping spree, make sure to update (and diversify) the passwords on all of your digital banking accounts. It is also a good idea to update the passwords of any retail site you log into during the event.
4. Monitor your accounts
While it is a good idea to review your accounts regularly, it is especially important to monitor them after Cyber Monday. Make sure to check all of your accounts – even the ones you didn’t use – for a few days after Cyber Monday to make sure none of your information has been compromised.
5. Only shop at trustworthy retailers
With the advent of third-party retailer sites like Shopify, it is especially easy for anyone to make a convincing online store. Be wary of these popup shops. While they may not be in the business of stealing information, many scammers will populate a fake online store with fake products. Once you buy their products, they will take your money and shut down the store without delivering the promised goods.
To avoid this, only shop at retailers you know and trust and be aware of too-good-to-be-true deals.