‘Tis the season for holiday shopping and many of us Americans will be doing our gift shopping online. And what isn’t there to love about online shopping? You can beat the holiday crowds, use promotions like https://www.raise.com/coupons/kohls for a holiday discount, you can even have items delivered right to your loved one’s doors (gift wrapping and messages included!).
Plus, there is an endless variety of items you can get online. From clothing to electronics to home and garden, the list goes on. Not only that, but even busy companies have the pleasure of online shopping – especially retail and hospitality who would find it a bit of a pain to go out and buy their necessities! They are now able to bulk buy in large quantities for whatever they need – visit https://www.bulkbuys.com.au/ as an example of somewhere they can do this. Either way, everyone benefits from this quick and reliable new source of shopping. But there are always downsides, and always precautions that need to be taken of course.
So before you log in and search around for those gifts, the Pennsylvania Bankers Association wants to help you safeguard your bank account for a safer experience. PA Bankers President Duncan Campbell says as Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach, the security of your financial information is top-of-mind at your bank. And unfortunately it is not as important for many shoppers out there as it should be.
But, you can never be too safe, especially when 96% of americans shop with online stores at least once a year. Your internet safety is paramount at all times, even when you’re doing something as simple as online shopping. Thanks to your phone, you now have endless information at your fingertips. But how sure are you that you are not exposed to any kind of risk? From online threats, blackmailing, hacking, to even digital theft, the number of cybercrimes increases every day. But, it does not mean you stop using smartphones. When you have the right knowledge and deploy the necessary measures, you could prevent yourself from being a victim of these crimes. Also, reading up phone security statistics, and other related information might give you a vague understanding of the need for measures to be implemented.
Having said that, here are few tips that PA Bankers offer to consumers who shop online.
- Change your online banking password before and after the holiday season.
- Avoid doing your shopping over public Wi-Fi.
- When shopping online, use reputable merchants and make sure the webpage you’re using has the tiny padlock symbol at the bottom of the page.
- Check your account at least once a day and always log out of your online banking website when you’re done.
- And, don’t open emails that appear suspicious…especially messages containing links to unfamiliar websites.
Officials say the addition of the chip-embedded credit card should help create a more secure shopping experience for consumers.
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Photo by Rizvan Biltireiu
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