Today is Cyber Monday. So this seems like the perfect time to remind everyone to be careful when online shopping this holiday season — and throughout the year.
Not to be a Grinch and spoil the holiday festivities, but the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is warning consumers about the increase in internet crime, especially around the holidays. They warn that “scammers can rob you of hard-earned money, personal information, and, at the very least, a festive mood.”
Here are a few tips from the FBI on how to protect yourself this holiday shopping season:
Practice good cybersecurity hygiene – Don’t click on any unsolicited or suspicious links or attachments in emails, texts or social media. Be wary if a company or business asks for your password or account information.
Know who you’re buying from – Check each website’s URL to make sure it’s legitimate and secure. If you’re purchasing from a company for the first time, do your research and check reviews. And if purchasing from a marketplace or auction site, check their reviews and ratings.
Be careful how you pay – Check your credit card statement regularly. If you see a suspicious transaction, contact your credit card company to dispute the charge. And the FBI says you should never wire money directly to the seller.
Monitor the shipping process – Always get the tracking numbers for items you buy online, so you can make sure they have been shipped and can follow the delivery process.
Council of Seniors Is Working To Protect You
All of us here at the Council of Seniors are working hard to protect retirees and their hard-earned money. We are committed to getting Congress to pass The SAVE Benefits Act and finally make up for the insufficient Social Security cost of living adjustments (COLAs) in some recent years. With its passage, $581 can finally be returned to seniors.
Signing our petition right now is the best and fastest way to help. Let’s show lawmakers that their constituents support this bill. We greatly appreciate your participation in this critical effort.