This is expected to become Cyber Week as shoppers are extending the retail frenzy to include Thanksgiving week, but beware of identity thieves who are gearing up for their busy holiday season.
The following are some of the best ways to protect yourself from Better Business Bureau.
Lots of websites pop up around this time of year, offering deals you won’t find in the stores. The BBB suggests looking into the website to make sure you’re not falling into a scam. Some things to look out for:
Do they have a phone number and a physical address?
How long have they been in business?
Do they have a good track record from previous customers?
Use a credit, not a debit. While it may not keep hackers from getting their hands on your card number, using a credit card is safer than reaching for your debit. Credit cards have more security features than debit cards and credit companies are more willing to replace your stolen money than most banks.
Scammers know this time of the year everyone’s looking for the best deal. So treat all promotional emails that aren’t coming from a trusted retailer as dangerous material. Even if you open the email, do not click on any links inside.
The BBB defines a strong passwords as one with numbers, capital and lowercase letters and a symbol. A strong password should be used on all of your accounts, including email and online banking.
Update Your Operating System
Use a Secure WiFi Connection. Hoping on the free connection from down the street can be tempting, but unsecured network connections leave your information open to the scammers waiting for you to click connect.
FBI's 10 most wanted cyber criminals http://cnnmon.ie/1HgCXqk