Tips for a safe Cyber Monday
(KION) Cyber Monday is one of the top online shopping days of the year, but it comes with some risks, including phishing scams, misleading ads and the chance that your package may never arrive.
75 percent of consumers say they’ll do some of their holiday shopping online and almost half plan to shop exclusively online this year, according to an Accenture survey.
The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers to be wary of lookalike websites and misleading advertising.
Also, be on the lookout for phishing scams. If you receive unsolicited emails, calls or texts about a free gift waiting for you or a problem with a delivery, be careful. Scammers could use these messages and links to steal your personal information.
There are some ways you can stay safe online: make sure the company has legitimate contact information and customer service phone numbers before you purchase anything. Also, check to see if you spelled the name of the website properly.
But there are some ways to keep yourself safe online, President/CEO Luis Alvarez with Alvarez Technology Group in Salinas tells me it all starts with only going to websites you trust.
“Go to sites that you know, that you’re comfortable with, that you’re familiar with. If you get an email from somebody that has link and it has a deal that’s too good to be true, it’s really too good to be true so don’t click on it,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez adds that it’s best to use a credit card and not a debit card.
Also, don’t do online shopping on public wifi because scammers could try to hack into your accounts.
When it comes to online shopping, the risks don’t end when you check out; you'll want to make sure that your package actually makes it to your doorstep with thieves on the prowl.
The Salinas Police department says they see an increase in package thefts during the holidays when there’s more shopping going on.
They recommend signing up for delivery alerts or scheduling delivery for a secure location.
“You can have your package delivered to your place of employment. You can have it delivered to a relatives house, just to make sure that it gets to you,” Salinas Police Department PIO Miguel Cabrera said.
The United States Postal Service offers a few other recommendations to make sure you get your packages: put a hold on your mail if you're heading out of town and request a signature confirmation upon delivery so your package won’t be delivered unless you sign.
