Online Shopping Tips for the Holidays

You’ve got your holiday shopping list ready — and it’s never been easier to complete your list online. Many retailers have expanded their online presence this year, rolling out enhanced shopping features and special online sales. Shopping online from the comfort of home is quick and convenient, but it’s important to be careful about online security.

Scammers are hoping to target rushed holiday shoppers who will skip important security measures online. Shop online safely and guard your financial information with these tips.

Shop with stores you know. The possibilities are endless when you search the web for the perfect holiday gifts. You might find an item you want for a super low price at a retailer you’ve never heard of before. Stay safe by shopping on reputable sites that are known for their positive customer service practices.

Read reviews. Don’t just look at the number of stars, read what people have to say. No matter how great the price, if a seller has bad reviews you may want to keep looking. Keep in mind that good reviews can be fake, so if something seems off, trust your instincts.

Guard your information. It’s usually best to err on the side of caution when sharing information, because even the most trustworthy companies can be hacked or your information could be exposed to a data breach. Read the company’s privacy policy to find out how your information will be stored or used before entering any information.

Check the URL. Watch out for warning signs such as overly long or complicated URLs with extra periods, foreign characters or misspelled words. Look for the padlock icon in the search bar, which shows the website is secure. Also check that the URL has an “s” for “secure” (as in https://). This indicates that data transmitted is encrypted.

Click carefully. Avoid phishing scams designed to get you to click on links in an email or enter your information on fake websites. These phishing scams may appear to look like offers from retailers you know. If you’re not sure, go directly to the retailer’s website instead of following a link. Learn more about how to avoid scams this holiday season.

Avoid public Wi-Fi. Your transactions can be easily intercepted by hackers on a public Wi-Fi network. If you’re shopping on the go, use a virtual private network (VPN) or your phone’s mobile hot spot instead.

Use strong passwords. Set up unique passwords that are difficult for hackers to guess on banking and e-commerce sites. Change your passwords regularly and don’t reuse the same passwords across multiple sites.

Monitor your accounts. Verify your transactions on your checking account and credit card statements to confirm that the charges are correct. Monitoring your accounts closely can help you quickly detect any unauthorized transactions. Set up email or mobile alerts to notify you of unusual activity on your accounts.

Teaming Up for Fraud Prevention 

Amegy Bank is looking out for your security with fraud monitoring and built-in security features to prevent unauthorized access to your accounts. Visit our Security Center to learn more about how we can work together to stop fraud and protect your information during the holiday season and throughout the year.