How to shop safely online during the pandemic
Despite stores reopening in many parts of the country, people are still shopping online more than ever. And that includes the use of new sites created by your favorite small businesses, trying to stay afloat in dangerous economic times.
But be careful, experts warn, because cybercriminals also flock to e-commerce sites. His favorite crimes include opening fake accounts on retail sites and hijacking real accounts through identity theft.
Online fraud was already on the rise before COVID-19 in large part thanks to the deployment of chip and signature technology, which has made the in-person credit card fraud of the past that much more difficult to achieve.
Account acquisitions increased 72% in 2019, to 13 million cases, according to the most recent figures from security firm Javelin, which tracks financial crime. Consumer fraud losses in the United States reached $ 16.9 billion that year, with consumers directly paying $ 3.5 billion of the total.
Meanwhile, previously existing consumer information theft methods, such as online card theft software, are becoming bigger problems as consumers turn to new e-commerce operations established by their favorite small businesses.
Here's a rundown of some of the top threats to online shopping and tips on how you can protect yourself.
How to shop more safely
Here are important tips to protect yourself while shopping. Also, just a quick reminder, as a consumer, you are not responsible for fraudulent charges on your credit cards. If you see a charge that doesn't seem correct, report it to your bank and they will remove the charge and issue you a new card.
Take care of the basics. Make sure your computer, mobile device, and antivirus software are up to date. That can go a long way in blocking all kinds of online threats. Setting good passwords , or better yet, using a password manager , will also avoid a lot of trouble. And while you're at it, enable two-factor authentication that adds a second form of identification, such as a fingerprint or physical key, whenever you can, says Tedder.
Use reputable websites. While big-name retailers have been compromised by Magecart, Mador says they are still more likely to have adequate data security protections. And if a site looks sketchy in general, walk away. While it may not be a vehicle for Magecart, it could still be a scam.
Use cash or a payment app with local stores. You can use your favorite restaurant's website to order your takeout, but it's safer to pay in person later. Consider using cash or a service like Apple Pay, where the retailer doesn't handle your credit card information.
Don't take the bait of phishing. Researchers have reported large spikes in coronavirus-themed phishing emails. Don't click links or open attachments in emails from people you don't know. And never enter your banking credentials or other credentials on a website that you reached by following a link in an email. These are the ways in which the vast majority of account acquisitions occur. Instead, open a new browser tab and enter the site's URL by hand or through a web search.
Use only one or two credit cards to make your purchases. This makes it easier to detect fraud. Even better, use a mobile payment service , like Apple Pay or Google Pay, whenever possible. Instead of your actual credit card number, these services use secure tokens that are worthless if stolen.
Don't mix work and pleasure. If you are using the same computer for work or financial accounts as for shopping, set up separate browser accounts. This will help prevent any malicious shopping-related browser extensions or scripts that you may accidentally download from accessing your work-related information. You can even use two completely different browsers, like Chrome and Firefox.
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