If you want to stay safe when shopping on Cyber Monday and beyond, the Better Business Bureau has several tips to keep in mind. Some of these might seem like no-brainers, but scammers are willing to throw everything at you until something sticks.
Don’t fall for scams. Use these 10 clever shopping tips
Each year, the BBB documents online shopping scams to help warn customers that they may be at risk. If you plan on doing your shopping online this holiday season, keep these factors in mind the next time you see something that doesn’t sit right:
I fell for a scam. What are my options?
If you think you’ve fallen for an online shopping scam, don’t panic. There are several ways you can still protect your data and money from harm.
Scan your computer with an antivirus program to make sure you don’t have a Trojan hiding anywhere. Tap or click here to see free scan options for your PC or Mac.Use two-factor authentication to protect your online bank accounts. Tap or click here to find out how to enable 2FA on your favorite sites.If you shared any personal data like your Social Security number, consider freezing your credit to protect your score. Tap or click here to see how to set up a credit freeze. Contact your bank or financial institution and notify them that you may be at risk for fraud.
Online scams are tough to spot by design, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you were fooled. Now that you know what to look for, you can have a safer time shopping this holiday season. Please share this article with your friends and family to make sure they know what to do, too.
