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Cyber Monday Shopping Safety

Cyber Monday is here and it is one of the biggest online shopping days of the year. Before you jump online and start spending, let's take a moment to review how to stay safe while shopping.

💻 Shop with Reputable Retailers
Bookmark verified sites and avoid clicking on links from emails or text messages. Only buy gift cards from credible establishments, not resellers.

💳 Be Cautious About Your Cards
Always shop online with a credit card, not your bank/debit card. In the event something goes terribly wrong, you will not be without your cash flow while fraudulent purchases are investigated. It's also a good idea to decline to save your card information on a retailer's site to keep yourself even safer.

🚫 Do Not Shop on Public Wi-Fi
Shopping online from your laptop, tablet, or phone while connected to public Wi-Fi can open the door to hackers. If you must shop on public Wi-Fi, use a virtual private network (VPN), which creates a “tunnel” that allows you to transmit your encrypted data securely.

🔒 Spend on Secured Sites
Look for a little lock icon in the top left corner of your browser bar when you're on a site. A secure site's URL should start with HTTPS and not HTTP. You might have to click on the URL to see the HTTPS. Secure sites use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to keep data in transit hidden from hackers.

👀 Check Your Accounts Frequently
Santa is always watching, and you should always keep eyes on your transaction history and credit report. If you spot an unauthorized transaction, call your bank or card issuer right away.

🎁 Stay a Step Ahead of the Porch Pirates
Take advantage of package tracking options. Provide specific delivery instructions and schedule deliveries to arrive when you will be home to receive your items. Consider delivery locker options or having packages delivered to a trusted person that will be present to receive items.

Following these tips will help avoid having your holiday fun spoiled by scams and theft. Happy Shopping Oceanside!