media@nclnet.org<\/a><\/p>\nWashington, DC–As Americans return to the workplace next Monday after the long holiday weekend, many will spend a portion of their day surfing the Internet for deals from online retailers. Monday, November 28 — \u201cCyber Monday\u201d \u2013 is what the retail industry claims to be one of, if not the, busiest Internet shopping days of the year, and with more and more consumers opting to avoid the mall, e-shopping next week is expected to be higher than ever. As reported in the\u00a0Wall Street Journal<\/em>, spending on Cyber Monday will be around $1.2 billion, a prediction by research-firm comScore Inc.<\/p>\nWhether consumers do their shopping online at the workplace or at home, advocates are reminding them to practice safe e-shopping habits in the coming weeks and year-round. \u201cThe Internet can make your shopping faster and easier, but there can also be pitfalls if you’re not careful,\u201d said Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League, which today released its top ten tips for avoiding cyber grinches and scams this holiday season. \u201cThere are ways to ensure you have a safe online shopping experience, so that gift-giving is a joyous occasion, not an opportunity for cyber thieves.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n- Don\u2019t shop online on an unencrypted or open wireless network. As convenient as they seem, an airport or coffee shop\u2019s wireless network is not an appropriate place to conduct financial transactions. Entering personal financial information over an unsecured connection may leave your computer open the to hackers and thieves to capture your financial information. Home Wi-Fi networks can also be compromised, so consumers should find out how to secure their connections.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Secure your computer before shopping online. Before connecting to the Internet or shopping online, take the following three core protections: 1) Install anti-virus and anti-spyware programs and keep them up to date; 2) Install a personal firewall; 3) Regularly update operating system and anti-virus programs to current protections.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Know who you\u2019re dealing with. Before shopping online with an unknown e-store, check out the seller and be sure to get the name and physical address of the vendor in case something goes wrong. If you\u2019re buying gifts on an online auction site, check the track record of the seller before you bid.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Pay the safest way \u2013 by credit card, especially when you’re purchasing something that will be delivered later. Under federal law you can dispute the charges if you don’t get what you were promised. You may also dispute unauthorized charges on your credit card. Consider using a “virtual” credit card number. \u00a0These numbers replace your plastic credit card number with a new number that is linked to your real account number. \u00a0When you\u2019re prompted to enter your credit card number at checkout, you enter the virtual number instead of the real number. \u00a0These “virtual” numbers can be set to have a low credit limit, to only work at certain Web sites, or to expire after a certain period of time (two months from date of purchase is a good rule of thumb). \u00a0This way, if the Web site you’re shopping at is compromised, the crooks likely won’t be able to run up charges on your real credit account since the virtual number. \u00a0A note of caution, however: think twice before using a virtual credit card number for services where you will be billed repeatedly or for things like rental car reservations, since the card may not be billed until you pick up the car.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Only shop on safe sites. When providing payment information, the Web site URL address should change from \u201chttp\u201d to \u201chttps,\u201d (or, less frequently, \u201cshttp\u201d) indicating that the purchase is encrypted or secured. Look for an icon on the browser (generally in the bottom right of the window), such as an image of a padlock closing, to indicate that the page is secure.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Don\u2019t fall for a phishing email or pop-up. Legitimate companies don\u2019t send unsolicited email messages asking for your password, login name, or your financial information. But scammers do, and it\u2019s called \u201cphishing.\u201d Crooks often send emails that look like they\u2019re from legitimate companies \u2013 but direct you to click on a link, where they ask for your personal information. Delete these emails.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Be careful when shopping for a gift in an online auction. Consumers sometimes turn to auctions for harder-to-find collectibles or expensive electronics. Understand how the auction works, and check out the seller\u2019s reputation before you bid. Use safe ways to pay, like a credit card. If you use a 3rd party payment system, read the terms carefully to understand what protection, if any, it offers if you don\u2019t receive what you were promised. Always ask about terms of delivery and return options. Be especially wary of auctions that ask for payment via wire transfer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Turn your computer off when you\u2019re finished shopping. Many people leave their computers running 24\/7, the dream scenario for scammers who want to install malicious software\u2014\u201cmalware\u201d\u2014on your machine and then control it remotely to enable them to commit cyber crime. To be extra safe, switch off your computer when you are not using it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Don\u2019t be tempted by offers of free money. Con artists take advantage of cash-strapped consumers during the holidays to offer personal loans or credit cards for a fee upfront. These scammers simply take the money and run. Beware of emails offering loans or credit, especially if you have credit problems.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
10.\u00a0 Visit\u00a0www.fraud.org<\/a>\u00a0to learn more about protecting yourself from online scams year-round and to report suspicious sites, sellers, or scams. You don\u2019t have to be a victim to report a scam, and your information will help law enforcement go after cyber grinches.<\/p>\nAbove all, look into the business or individual with whom you are doing business before making the transaction. For more information on avoiding scams throughout the year, visit www.fraud.org.<\/p>\n
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About the National Consumers League<\/strong><\/p>\nThe National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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