thePULSEHoliday shopping season is here! But as you gear up for the mad dash to find the perfect gifts for those on your list, don’t forget to take simple precautions to keep your credit card, banking and identity information safe.
From the experts at Experian’s ProtectMyID (protectmyID.com), we’ve got tips to help you survive the holiday shopping season without falling victim to identity theft.
Online shopping
- Never shop on a public wi-fi connection. Although you may trust the baristas at your local coffee shop, you can’t always trust the person sitting next to you. Hackers can easily tap into Wi-Fi connections at public hot spots to steal your identity and credit card information.
- Look for signs shopping sites are protecting your data. On the webpage where you enter your credit card or other personal information, look for an “s” after “http” in the Web address of that page and a secured padlock (https://). Encryption is a security measure that scrambles data as it travels through the Internet.
In-store shopping
- Streamline your wallet. Leave anything you don’t need, such as your Social Security card and excess credit cards, at home.
- When paying with a credit card, never let the clerk take the card out of your sight. The swipe should take place in clear view.
- Don’t sign up for store credit cards at the checkout counter to avoid exposing identifying information to prying eyes. Take the application home and fill it out in private.
