Shoppers often participate in Cyber Monday because of the 24-hour convenience that online offers, they are able to avoid the crowds that Black Friday brings, and they appreciate the sales and delivery specials that online retailers offer. While shopping online, it’s important to remember to do your research and shop securely. Below are some trends and tips to help make your online shopping a safe and successful one.
TIPS
Make Sure Your Family Shops Safe
- Parental control: There is software you can install on your kids’ and teens’ computers and mobile devices to limit the websites they can access.
- Hackers like kids IDs: Since kids and teens usually have good credit, hackers are always on the lookout for their information. This can allow hackers to obtain credit cards and more. Talk to your family about the importance of not giving out personal information in soliciting emails or social media.
- Email phishing: Teach your teens and young adults on how to catch email phishing. Click here for more info.
- Looking out for scams: Young people tend to shop based on what their peers or celebrities are wearing or using. Scammers will try to lure them to click on links such as “free Kylie products,” “free concerts,” “free game” and more. If it’s too good to be true do not click.
- HTTP and HTTPS: Before sending any personal and sensitive information, make sure the website has “https://” at the beginning of its web address. The “S” at the end of HTTPS indicates that the website is secure because it is encrypted, which makes it safe to enter credit card or other personal information.
Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, is one of the biggest days of the year for online sales. According to Adobe’s 2016 Digital Insights Shopping Predictions, Cyber Monday is expected to bring in $3.36 billion, up nearly $30 million from 2015’s $3.07 billion.
Better Business Bureau wants to remind consumers to be mindful of their online transactions during the holiday season.
Test your “Digital IQ.” Get ready for Cyber Monday by taking our fun, 12-question quiz that challenges you to check what you already know about Savvy Shopping. Learn about managing your digital privacy and the value you get from sharing data online.
Be a savvy shopper. When shopping online, be sure to take your time, and read the fine print before submitting your order. Look for the return policy during the holidays, as some stores have different return policies depending on the item you purchase and when trying to return an item you purchased online. Although many online orders can be returned for a full refund, others have restocking fees.
Know the advertiser. Some of the best deals are only available online, but be careful. It’s easy for a fake site to mimic a famous retailer’s website, so make sure you are shopping with a legitimate site. Check out bbb.org to read more about stores or websites unfamiliar to you.
Trust but verify. When shopping online, use retail websites that you trust. Use common sense and avoid deals that seem “too good to be true.” If you’re shopping with an unfamiliar retailer, visit bbb.org to read customer reviews and learn more about previous customers’ experiences.
Use anti-virus software. To ensure your computer and personal information are safe, use anti-virus software on your computer or mobile device and keep it up-to-date.
Shop with a credit card. A credit card provides additional protections over a debit card in case of fraudulent transactions. If your card number is compromised, it’s easier to dispute any charges that you didn’t approve. Prepaid cards or gift cards don’t have the same protections as a credit card, but you’ll never lose more than the value of the card itself.
Make sure websites are secure. Only share personal information and your credit card number with websites that are https (the extra “s” stands for secure) and that have a security lock icon in the task bar.
Be careful of phishing scams. A popular one at this time of year is an email claiming to be from a package- delivery company with links to tracking information (clicking on unfamiliar links can place you at risk for malware and/or identity theft).
Check out bbb.org to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, report a scam, read tips, follow us on social media, and more!
2016 TRENDS
Online Shopping: Cyber Monday achieved a new record with $3.45 billion spent online.
Going Mobile: 47% percent of all website visits came from mobile devices — mostly smartphones — and contributed 31 percent of sales.
Search: Search ads drove 38.5 percent of sales on Cyber Monday.
Desktop Search: Desktops accounting for 53 percent of visits and 69 percent of sales.
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