We know that people are shopping from home more these days, and with the holiday season upon us, we can expect that number to increase. In fact, 72% of Holiday shoppers say they will shop more online this season. However, this also increases the risk of identity and credit card theft.
Most of us create multiple accounts when accessing e-commerce platforms to purchase items, and these accounts often contain sensitive information, like your contact details and credit card information.
Make sure you choose a strong, unique password that’s at least eight characters long, and use a different password for every account, so that if one account is hacked, your other accounts aren’t compromised. And should you ever get logged out of your account and need to quickly regain access, adding recovery information like a phone number or email address will definitely be helpful!
Make sure you’re downloading apps from trusted sources like the Google Play Store which scans all apps for malware before and after you install them. This ensures that you’re using the official app and not ones developed for phishing customer information.
To avoid being a victim of phishing attacks, never click on questionable links Always double-check the URL to make sure the browser shows a lock symbol to ensure that you’re entering your data into a legitimate website. Before submitting any information, make sure that the site’s URL begins with ‘https’ meaning it’s secure
Online marketplaces are a great place to get the best bargains for the festive season. But do think twice about that great bargain you’ve spotted, especially if it sounds too good to be true.
To prevent yourself from falling victim to an e-commerce scam, always check the seller’s score and track record, and only purchase from reputable sellers. Use shopping platforms that release payments to the seller after you have received the goods.
