Whether you’re online shopping for last minute gifts or looking for Boxing Day deals, you need to be careful not to fall for any scams that seem too good to be true. More and more Canadians are shopping online, but there are plenty of bad actors out there trying to trick you into giving them your credit card number.
To help you make responsible choices, here are some tips for online shopping this holiday season with ease.
Tips for Online Shopping Safely
Make sure the site is secure
When online shopping, make sure the site you’re browsing on is secure. How can you tell? Look at the URL. It should begin with https:// rather than http://.
Do you know the vendor?
Do you recognize the business? Does it have a professional looking website? Make sure you’re shopping on the real site. Look for the address, customer service phone number and other contact information. Ensure it’s all spelled correctly.
Never click on links asking for financial information
A common phishing scam is when an email that looks like it’s from a legitimate retailer or a shipping company asks you for credit card or banking information. It can be easy to fall for these during the holidays when you have many packages coming. It might seem plausible that a shipping company would be contacting you. Just know that no real company would ask you for financial information this way. Report it as spam!
Read product descriptions carefully
To avoid receiving counterfeit products, make sure you’re A) shopping from a reputable online store and B) you’re reading product descriptions so you know what you’re getting.
Always read your financial statements
Check your credit card activity. If you use Pay Pal, check your account frequently. Report any purchases that you didn’t make. It’s important to be diligent if you’re online shopping online.
Be careful on social media
You might get ads on social media for sales and deals during the holidays. Make sure the accounts are legitimate businesses. Many bigger companies have blue check marks next to their username proving that it’s a verified account (not necessarily true on Twitter anymore, but for Instagram and Facebook – yes). Make sure the deal or sale applies to Canada. Sometime you’re seeing American pricing in the ads.
We hope these tips help you stay safe online this holiday season!
Happy Holidays from us at TwinBytes.
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